Barbon names Martin Totty chief executive

Barbon Insurance has appointed Cigna’s Martin Totty as chief executive and Malcolm McCaig as chairman.

Totty will take over from acting chief executive and former Barbon and Caley chief financial officer Ian Sutherland on 4 November. Sutherland will leave the business after a short handover period.

He spent six years as chief executive of First Assist Insurance Services and then Cigna, following Cigna’s takeover of First Assist.

Before that he held a variety of senior sales and market roles with food and drink companies including Unigate, PepsiCo and United Biscuits.

McCaig will succeed Jamie Drummond-Smith as chairman of Barbon on 1 October, in addition to continuing his role as chairman of Caley.  

McCaig said: “We are delighted that someone of Martin Totty’s calibre is joining Barbon. I look forward to his motivational leadership of the firm as we continue to develop and strengthen our market-leading position in the residential lettings market.”

“The Board would also like to take this opportunity to thank Ian Sutherland and Jamie Drummond-Smith for their invaluable contribution and commitment over the past few years. We wish them every success for the future.”

Barbon sold its property and commercial business book to Arthur J Gallagher in May, leaving it with lettings brands HomeLet, Letsure and Rentshield. Its former chief executive Mike Ramesey left after a year in the post following the sale.