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Broker Insights
Phil Bayles: Ardonagh Advisory to use ‘regular drumbeat’ of M&A to add ‘more strings to our bow’
Chief commercial officer reveals that the intermediary organisation is aiming to complete 12 acquisitions in 2023, with plenty of transactions closing in Q1 and Q2
Troy Stevens: Rhino Trade Insurance seeks to demystify insurance for tradespeople
The specialist broker wishes to hit ’a sweet spot’ for supporting tradespeople rather than simply being a ‘jack of all trades’, says chief executive
Lee Davey: Creating an ‘intentional’ business requires commitment to ‘core values’
With Partners& growing into its first maturity stage, Insurance Times gets the story behind the business’ progress so far
Warren Downey: Specialist Risk Group is ‘quite romantic about M&A’
Alongside acquiring businesses in adjacent markets and building on existing specialties, SRG also has plans to become ‘more noticeably international’ in 2023, says group chief executive
Broker consolidation is ‘a long way off becoming a real fundamental problem’
Group chief executive identifies ‘little moment in time’ around multiples which means more broker leaders may be tempted to tap into consolidators ahead of schedule
Peter Thompson: ‘Challenge anything’ mindset behind BGLI’s 30th anniversary success
Broker chief executive says that being acquired by Markerstudy Group has created a ‘formidable’ player in the personal lines market that does not have ‘any bounds in terms of ambitions’
Paul Anscombe: Time for Seventeen Group ‘to put its flag in the ground and build’
After completing 20 acquisitions in as many years, chief executive says there is ’purpose behind the growth’.
David Howden: Rise of the underdog
The insurance industry must be a ‘force for good’ rather than ‘the naysayers we are sometimes seen as’, says broker boss
Lea Cheesbrough: The ex-broker shifting appointed representatives away from a ‘tarnished’ reputation
The FCA’s new regulations on ARs will provide a boost to AR networks, says managing director
William Cooper: Stanhope Cooper seeks investment to get greater ‘buy-in from insurers’
Managing director believes that private equity funding or investment from a larger broker is ‘inevitable’ and will help facilitate growth across three business segments
Mike Bruce: ‘We were in a great position before, but we’re in a better position now’
GRP’s recent purchase by American broker Brown and Brown will open the door for fresh M&A targets that the broker has not ’historically been able to make the maths work on in the past’
Aventum flaunts independent status to attract talent amid consolidation landscape
Wholesale broker and parent firm attribute ‘phenomenal growth’ to attracting the right talent and building ‘a really good culture’ based on steering clear of consolidation
Aventum Group embraces trading London market-based risks via digital platforms
Although face-to-face conversations are crucial in the London market, SME and some simpler risks can be traded through digital platforms ‘to make it easier for agents to access’
Amy Barnes: Successful ESG agendas need ‘bold commitments’
Head of sustainability and climate change strategy believes ’good ESG leads to fewer insured losses’
John Warburton: Why Konsileo aims to be the ‘RoboCop’ of commercial broking
The chief executive tells Insurance Times how focusing on employee engagement and supporting staff with technology is ’our whole shtick’
Daniel Lloyd-John: Putting broking ‘on the map’ as Biba’s regional committee chairman
The broker chief executive tells Insurance Times his overarching plans for his new Biba role, including developing peer-to-peer learning
Will Acrisure become the new crème de la crème of broker networks?
The broker plans to provide a ’digital network proposition’ to combat competitor offerings that ’aren’t that great’ and have not ’moved with the times’
Toby Clegg: Clegg Gifford to tap into ‘distribution heft’ of new parent Markerstudy
The chief executive is also looking to achieve four ‘ambitious milestones’ in 2022, including growing the broker’s retail branch network
Jaime Swindle: Effective trading versus efficiency will be a broker focus this year
As broking networks help their members combat the current climate’s challenges, the Covid-19 pandemic admittedly hasn’t been all bad, resulting in ‘a more forward-thinking industry’ says networks MD
Richard Brooks: Brokers need to be ‘flexible’ and offer ‘fit for purpose cover’
As the demand for technology SMEs grows, brokers that provide a specialist solution will have the edge
David Bearman: ‘Our focus will be to build a broking house that will be decade defining’
After 25 years at the helm, the insurance group’s chief executive says the business is ‘just getting started’ as it unveils new brand and restructure
Mike Bruce: Successful M&A ‘comes down to the quality of the businesses and why you are buying them’
Acquisition strategies need ‘a much more thoughtful model’ than ‘let’s buy everything that moves’ says chief executive
Phil Barton: Industry has become ‘incredibly lazy’ in providing advice
The future of commercial broking relies upon moving away from ‘a transactional approach’ to instead embrace partnerships and a clearer client focus
Insurance2025: Commercial Lines Keynotes, 2021
The rapid pace of consolidation is putting strain on broking staff, while startups are more likely to be insurtech businesses rather than commercial brokers, says broker chairman
A-Plan invests in data and digital to become UK’s ‘only truly omnichannel insurance distributor’
The use of data and digital should centre around ‘enhancing the client proposition’ rather than being purely for cost savings, says A-Plan’s group chief executive
A-Plan and Howden Group partnership ‘is very much around growth opportunity’
A-Plan’s group chief executive says the acquisition ‘just makes great sense’ because the broker operates ‘in a market where Howden are just very underweight’
Staying relevant is ‘the biggest, most interesting challenge out of this pandemic’ – David Howden
Plus, Howden Group’s chief executive believes the current hard market ‘will certainly sort the wheat from the chaff’
Hard market is ‘biggest opportunity we have’ – McGill and Partners
The broker’s head of structured solutions admits that he lives ‘on tension and strain in the market’ in order to drive product innovation
Howden Group puts ‘a new clank in that whole model’ by backing Dual with capital
Chief executive David Howden says Dual ‘as a business is absolutely of the moment’ and is now ‘in quite a unique position’ following internal capacity investment
Insurance industry’s resilience has made it ‘attractive to capital’ and open to ‘more consolidation’
Howden Group’s chief executive describes the lay of the land when it comes to M&A activity and highlights his business’s approach to acquisitions
A-Plan deal enables Howden Group to be a ‘real UK broking powerhouse’
Chief executive David Howden tells Insurance Times how the broking firm plans to become ‘the preeminent UK retail business’ following the successful completion of the acquisition, expected this month
London Market is ‘less competitive than it should be’ – Founder Shield
New York-based broker says the London Market ‘is showing a lack of agility’ and that ‘fewer opportunities will come’ to the capital unless it starts ‘taking more bets with slightly longer odds’
In Focus: Commercial brokers have ‘felt the pain’ for Covid-affected clients – McCarron Coates
Insurance Times sits down with commercial wheels broker McCarron Coates to explore how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted its clients and what the sector can expect moving forward
Building a boutique broker in the time of Covid-19 – Broadway’s Daniel Lloyd-John
Hitting £500,000 gross written premium just three months after launching specialist boutique broker Broadway Insurance Brokers’s founder and chief executive Daniel Lloyd-John tells Insurance Times about his plans for 2021 and why the North West is the ’perfect place’ for his proposition
‘We’re not interested in profit – we’re interested in building an asset’ says McCarron Coates
The Leeds-based commercial broker tells Insurance Times about its ‘old-fashioned’ approach to broking and why service quality is paramount
‘Personal relationships really matter in this industry’ – SRG’s Downey
SRG boss Warren Downey learned his trade from some of the best and brightest names within UK broking – he tells Insurance Times his story and route to leadership
Organic growth is the DNA of Specialist Risk Group says broker chief executive
Warren Downey has big plans for SRG this year. Insurance Times catches up with the broker boss to uncover the firm’s objectives since receiving a funding injection from private equity investor HGGC
The ‘single biggest challenge’ for brokers is capacity says Miller boss
Broker chief executive explains that ‘we’re having to work much harder for our clients to make sure we get them the deals done that they need’
M&A activity is “more frenetic now then it’s ever been” – Ethos Broking
The Covid-19 pandemic is accelerating M&A conversations, with many brokers considering whether to de-risk their assets
Private equity investment set to bring ‘significant firepower’ to Miller
The firm was ‘not going to be able to blossom in the Willis Towers Watson family’ says broker chief executive
In Focus: Independent brokers have ‘a mindset for survival’ – Ethos Broking
Building resilience while navigating the Covid-19 pandemic lies in forging progressive growth supported by the foundations of culture, communications and care, says Ethos Broking’s managing director
Business interruption has left customers confused, anxious and angry - Brightside chief exec
Insurance industry ’hasn’t covered itself in glory’ over business interruption claims, says Brendan McCafferty
Recruitment ‘not about hitting a number’, says Gallagher’s Michael Rea
The broker’s UK retail chief executive reveals his plans for growing Gallagher’s staff base
‘Time is ripe’ for technology transformation says Kingfisher
The broker’s group director of transformation tells Insurance Times about its newest technology partnership and how the business plans to revamp back office functionality to support both staff and customers
Brokerbility buy is a ‘tremendous opportunity’ says Clear Group boss
Broker to target small, specialty firms as part of M&A expansion plan to support ‘gradually moving up the ladder’
‘Keen to make acquisitions’ – Gallagher chiefs discuss M&A strategy
Gallagher has a strong balance sheet and a track record of buying UK brokers. Gallagher UK underwriting and broking boss, and M&A head Olly Homer, discuss acquisitions. The duo insist a strong cultural fit is paramount in making a deal.
eTrading Report findings: ‘Where next?’ with Polaris’ Simon Bloomfield
Insurance Times’ recent report on e-Trading made fascinating reading – and included several insights for insurers, brokers and software houses to consider. Simon Bloomfield, imarket product manager at Polaris reflects on the findings
The Big Question: After the fall of LAMP, should brokers face a levy for using unrated insurers?
Following yet another collapse of an unrated insurer in LAMP, as well as the recent struggles of Gefion, we ask if there should be any encouragement to stay away from this type of company?
2019 eTrading: Applied Systems to use Google partnership to fuel innovation
Insurance Times speaks to Joe Sultana, managing director, broker solutions, Applied Systems UK on the growth of Applied in the UK and reaction to the high rating in the Insurance Times 2019 eTrading Survey
Fresh war chest gives Bravo Group acquisition firepower
New funding round allows the owner of Broker Network and Compass to go on a new shopping spree
Exclusive: Gallagher UK retail boss Rea opens up on Stackhouse Poland deal
Michael Rea, chief executive of UK Retail outlines plans for the specialist broker, after completing the deal earlier this month
LV= working on 'totally new' broker portal as it reflects on disappointing Five Star rating
The managing director of LV= Broker has said that the company’s result in the Insurance Times Five Star Ratings Report does not reflect the results it has received in other reports.
Q&A: Cyber education and simplifying coverage with business group leader of cyber at Barbican, Graeme King
Graeme King speaks to Insurance Times about the how the complexity of cyber insurance can be a hurdle for regional brokers, and how Barbican hopes to remedy that
PIA - The cutting edge of broking
Technological innovation has tended to benefit personal lines. But PIA’s young chief executive contends that commercial brokers can see the benefits from it too, and says she has the model and the mettle to prove it.
Towergate Underwriting: 21st century MGA
Paul Dilley is overseeing a complete overhaul of Ardonagh’s MGA unit. The company plans to change name, structure and culture over the next 12 months
Interview: David Ross hails new Towergate structure
Premium content: David Ross, Janice Deakin and Adrian Brown talk to Insurance Times about the future for the new Towergate structure
Interview: How Mark Cliff aims to get Brightside back in the game
At the close of 2014, Brightside had a £45m loss and falling revenues. Now, new boss Mark Cliff hopes it will be able to consider acquisitions by the end of 2016
Q&A: Ian Stutz on Brokerbility’s growth 10 years on
Managing director Ian Stutz speaks to Insurance Times about what has been fuelling members’ growth and how Brokerbility has been helping members in a competitive market
Interview: Innovation Broking – rise of the anti-consolidator
Co-founders Paul Dickson and Howard Pearson explain how they plan to grow without acquisition and why big brokers have ‘failed miserably’ on client service
Interview: The man taking Pro Global to new heights
Chief executive and change specialist Artur Niemczewski wants to step outside his ‘fixer’ tag by making insurance consultant Pro Global a bigger player in the market
Interview: The Apprentice winner helping Be Wiser beat the aggregators
Be Wiser’s chief executive turned to Mark Wright when he needed an expert to push his company up the Google ratings
Carole Nash: a niche success story
The vintage motorcycle and car insurer’s founder Carole Nash and chief executive David Newman talk about the values that inspired its creation 30 years ago and that are still part of its DNA
Interview: How Cullum and Homer plan to settle ‘unfinished business’ at GRP
Ex-Towergate duo and GRP chief David Margrett reveal plans for consolidator
Interview: Bluefin’s Rob Organ - big shoes to fill
AXA-owned broker’s new chief executive tells Insurance Times what happens next following the departures of Stuart Reid and Mike Bruce and why he’s the right man for the top job
Interview: Deakin and Brown - putting aside old rivalries
Janice Deakin and Adrian Brown talk policy, strategy, and how the former competitors are enjoying working together at their new home at AJ Gallagher
Willis Networks: Battling for brokers’ hearts and minds
The network split broker opinion last year when it changed its remuneration model for brokers. Managing director Sara Fardon explains how those that work closely with the network can benefit from the move
Patrick Gallagher Jr: a global family affair
Arthur J Gallagher’s chairman, president and chief executive offers a rare insight into his company’s UK acquisition strategy and philosophy
Matthew Donaldson: Challenging the market
Not content with a 40% share of the UK aggregator market with Comparethemarket, the group chief executive of BGL has big plans to shake up the life insurance market and take the comparison model international
Fighting talk from Biba's Steve White
One year on, Steve White is clear on his strategy for the trade body: to make it the go-to organisation for the government and regulators, and to build stronger relationships with brokers
Mike Bruce: the brains behind Bluefin
The AXA-owned broker’s chief executive talks about his three pillars of strategy, the company’s open culture, and how he needed all his number skills when it came to integrating Bluefin’s myriad of acquisitions
Lonmar boss Simon Rice: 'It's been a steep learning curve'
Lonmar chief executive Simon Rice reflects on how his business got through troubled times in 2011 and looks forward to a year of continuing growth
Douetil's top job and high hopes at BMS
Dane Douetil talks about life after Brit, his year off, and how he harbours high ambitions in his new role as chief executive at BMS
