Bupa has appointed its director of legal and corporate affairs within the Bupa Global Market Unit, Penny Dudley, as its new chief legal officer.

Current chief legal officer Paul Newton will retire at the end of this year and Dudley's appointment will commence on 1 April.

She will also join the health care provider's executive team from the same date.

Dudley joined the private healthcare provider in 2010 as head of legal for Bupa's international health insurance business and has held a number of roles within the organisation before being appointed legal director for Bupa Global in May 2013.

Newton will step down after 29 years of service. He joined Bupa as a legal adviser in 1987, became its general counsel (GC) in 2005 and joined the Bupa executive team in 2013.

He will remain a member of the Bupa executive team ahead of his retirement and work closely with Dudley during the transition period. He will also act as Bupa's GC during this time.

Bupa's chief executive Stuart Fletcher said that Newton had built the company's legal function into "an externally recognised world-class team".

Bupa has appointed its director of legal and corporate affairs within the Bupa Global Market Unit, Penny Dudley, as its new chief legal officer.

Current chief legal officer Paul Newton will retire at the end of this year and Dudley's appointment will commence on 1 April.

She will also join the health care provider's executive team from the same date.

Dudley joined the private healthcare provider in 2010 as head of legal for Bupa's international health insurance business and has held a number of roles within the organisation before being appointed legal director for Bupa Global in May 2013.

Newton will step down after 29 years of service. He joined Bupa as a legal adviser in 1987, became its general counsel (GC) in 2005 and joined the Bupa executive team in 2013.

He will remain a member of the Bupa executive team ahead of his retirement and work closely with Dudley during the transition period. He will also act as Bupa's GC during this time.

Bupa's chief executive Stuart Fletcher said that Newton had built the company's legal function into "an externally recognised world-class team".