42. Ward Evans Group
Fee and comm income (2001): £12.3m
42. Ward Evans Group
Fee and comm income (2001): £12.3m
Pre-tax profit (2001): £0.6m
Address: 11th Floor
West Riding House
Albion Street
Leeds LS1 5AA
Tel: 0113 388 2600
Fax: 0113 388 2601
Email: beverley.webster@ wardevans.co.uk
Website: www.wardevans.com
History: Ward Evans Group was formed in 1992 by Michael Kenney, Richard Evans and Martin Ward to conduct general commercial insurance broking. Unusually, on the first day of trading, they had no clients, no income and just themselves as employees. Under the leadership of chief executive Michael Kenney, Ward Evans has grown into a group of companies and divisions which comprise Ward Evans Corporate, Ward Evans Financial, One Direct and One Life.
In just nine years, Ward Evans has opened offices in Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds and London.
From just three founder members, the group now employs more than 250 staff. Ward Evans recognises that it needs talented and committed young leaders in order to achieve its mid-term goal of becoming the biggest and best independent insurance broker in the UK.
Chief officer: Mike Kenney
Biography: Kenney, 45, is chief executive of Ward Evans Group and managing director of Ward Evans Corporate.
He began his career aged 19 at Bain Dawes (now Aon), before moving to Stewart Wrightson at 21. During his time with the firm, he was involved in the placement of corporate insurance programmes for manufacturing businesses.
In 1982, he moved to Whitely Henshaw Hindle as senior account executive and was promoted to the main executive board after six years with the company.
Qualifications gained during this time include ONC Business Studies Certificate, associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (ACII) Distinction and member of the British Institute of Management (MIMgt).
In 1992, along with colleagues Martin Ward and Richard Evans, Kenney established his own insurance broking company.
Major shareholders: MK Kenney, MC Ward, RE Evans, I Gillings, G Wilmott, AJK Dawson, N Gunn and P Dempsey.
Main lines of business: Business-to-business service provider with divisions focusing on corporate insurance broking, transactional insurance distribution, corporate financial services and online mortgage distribution.
Special schemes: A special scheme that caters for retailers and small manufacturing and distribution companies. Also insurance for recruitment agencies. Recently appointed by the BDA (British Dental Association) to provide insurance and financial services to the BDA members.
Number of UK branches: 4
Number of employees (average for 2001): 197
Technology: The Ward Evans Dynamic Quoting Technology, which has consolidated its insurance sales via both telesales departments and in real time over the internet.
