Founders of new broker Aquilla approached former colleague Blackham

Chris Blackham has been approached to chair a new property broker made up of former colleagues from his one-time business, Layton Blackham.

Blackham, who returned to the market this month with a non-executive directorship of broker Howden, is understood to be considering the offer.

The former managing director of Layton Blackham, Geoff Bradford, launched broker Aquilla earlier this year, with colleagues Julian Mungo, Natasha Ward, Julie Parmenter and Claire Clifford. Mungo confirmed the approach to Blackham but declined to comment further.

If Blackham accepts the job, it could see him slugging it out with Bluefin for clients. He sold Layton Blackham to AXA in 2004. The insurer combined it with other broking acquisitions to form Bluefin, run by former Stuart Alexander boss Stuart Reid.