UK Chief executive: Grahame Chilton
Brokerage: £650.1m
Management
It has been almost two years since reinsurance broking veteran Grahame ‘Chily’ Chilton agreed to fill the hole left by David Ross’s departure to Towergate and run Arthur J Gallagher’s London-based international operation.
As well as setting in motion plans to integrate Gallagher’s big purchases and simplify its web of regulated companies, he has drafted in some big names to help him, including hiring ex-Bluefin executive chairman Stuart Reid to head up retail broking.
Strategy
It may have been quieter at Gallagher International since its acrimonious court battle with Ross and others, but there has been no shortage of intrigue.
While Reid joined Gallagher in October 2015, he has yet to be approved by the FCA for the role.
It is also still unclear what the implications of the FCA’s Section 166 probe into the company will be.
Furthermore, the company’s sale of broker network Compass to its management seems like a U-turn. Compass was billed as one of the benefits of buying Giles back in 2013, but group chief financial officer Doug Howell said in May 2016 that the network “doesn’t really work inside Gallagher”.
Compared with 2013 and 2014, Gallagher International has been quiet on the acquisition front because of the group strategy of focusing on what it calls “tuck-in” acquisitions.
Despite this, Gallagher’s top executives are still positive about UK retail broking. Howell said in May: “We are seeing terrific opportunities there.”
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