Coates joins from property consultants GVA, where she was HR director for just over four years. Prior to that she held HR-related positions at PwC for almost a decade.
At Lockton she will oversee the company's workforce of around 5,000 staff. Key aspects of her role include succession planning, talent management, engagement and associate development.
Coates will head up both the HR and associate development teams at the company's London office.
Lockton partner and board member Chris Brown welcomed the appointment and highlighted Coates' "experience and insight in motivating and engaging employees" as some of her key attributes.
"Having an appropriate strategy in place to develop our people and manage talent will be instrumental to our on-going success," he said. "Julie’s appointment underlines the level of importance that the Board gives to this area.”
