Broker Interviews
-
IT InterviewJohn Toms: Claims, customers and his next chapter at Marsh
After more than three decades in the claims world, Marsh VP and senior claims consultant John Toms has handled everything from major fires and business interruption losses to theft and subsidence. But, for him, the job still comes down to being there when a client needs help
-
IT InterviewSonia Habib: Kovrilo launch followed a decade of refusing to accept ‘a limit in the sky’
Almost nine months into launching a new MGA, the commercial director reflects on the opportunities that ‘come from being hungry, determined and not necessarily taking no for an answer’
-
FeaturesAnne Bardsley: From Saturday filing clerk to south west growth leader
After a spell on the client side and a search for what she describes as a ‘unicorn’, Bardsley has returned to the UK broking market with a mission
-
IT InterviewEllie Jackson: From ‘ditzy’ apprentice to ‘tenacious’ broker MD in five years – How thoughtful succession planning is unlocking new growth opportunities at Robert Gerrard
The 28-year-old managing director bringing ‘a little bit of Essex in every boardroom’ as she homes in on international opportunities, new scheme potential and a talent first mindset for her incoming era of leadership
-
News AnalysisKelly Madeley: Industry must ‘make insurance exciting’ to attract talent
Ki’s chief people officer Kelly Madeley believes the insurance industry needs to widen its talent pool, embrace different career paths and work collectively to show young people that insurance can be a career where they make a difference
-
IT InterviewBarry Reynolds: Verlingue London Markets ‘heavily focused’ on MGA market as it seeks specialist growth
‘We’re really focused on finding areas of business that are not mainstream, but where we know that the London market has something specialist to offer,’ says broker’s executive director
-
IT InterviewJimmy Williams: How Urban Jungle is fending off fraud for renters’ financial inclusion
‘If we can tell the difference between a genuine customer who just happens to live in a lower income postcode and a fraudster, we can underwrite that better,’ says chief executive
-
IT InterviewSimon Waine: Homing in on ‘advice led broking’ and ‘client obsessed’ talent in Gallagher’s corporate division
Focusing on talent, rather than geography, is central to the broker’s service strategy moving forward, with recruitment volumes on the up for staff that have a ‘level of gravitas’, says corporate division managing director
-
IT InterviewMark Thomas: The chief executive building a new model for SME insurance growth
Compare My Insurance chief executive Mark Thomas has built the broker around a digital-first model, targeting the underserved SME market while investing in technology, talent and data to support rapid expansion.
-
IT InterviewJon Bethell: The changing face of private client insurance
Verlingue’s head of private clients discusses rising costs, new wealth and shifting lifestyles that are redefining what a private client looks like
-
IT InterviewSteven Darrah: Really Honest on ‘changing the narrative around insurance’ transparency
Following its May 2026 rebrand, the broker founder and chief executive says the business was ‘born out of a continued frustration with the insurance industry’ and has ‘jumped in with both feet’ to operate with transparency and accountability
-
IT InterviewInsurance sector still scratching head over ‘muddy’ emerging risk of intellectual property, cyber and general liability cross-section – Lockton
Risk managers could face policy exclusions arising from ‘complicated’ emerging risk cross-section, however broker senior vice-president ringfences geopolitical challenges as the risk community’s most pressing concern in 2026
-
IT InterviewLea Cheesbrough: From nurse to networker and becoming a ‘one woman crusade for independent broking’
Broker network leader reflects on her career journey so far and identifies that 2026 will see the business focus on new staff, services and broker investments supporting succession planning
-
IT InterviewGraeme Trudgill: Potential ‘future PM’ and the FCA – why to attend first session of 26 Biba Conference
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham will take to the stage during the opening session of this year’s Biba Conference
-
IT InterviewDaniel Lloyd-John: ‘Pioneer for change’ broker designs talent-centric, geography agnostic expansion plan
Chief executive believes broker consolidation across UK’s northern regions is giving industry talent greater pause for career thought – and enabling joint venture partnership opportunities
-
News AnalysisOlga Collins: WBN leader says brokers must become ‘an extension’ of corporate risk management
The Worldwide Broker Network (WBN) chief executive discusses the changing role of brokers, the importance of active risk management and emphasises the vital need for advisory-led relationships
-
NewsMike Joseph: Incident that saw CUO ‘an hour away from not making it’ led to career rethink
Lucida Group’s Mike Joseph says it is a ‘surreal’ feeling to retire, but that it has ’been on my mind that you never know what’s around the corner’
-
IT InterviewRenewals saw reinsurers keen to deploy capital, buyers focused on banking savings – Gallagher Re’s Kerton
Three years of strong profitability left reinsurers comfortable with their risks despite softened rates, while cedants prioritised reduced cost over additional protection
-
IT InterviewRyan Gill: Steering Bspoke ‘delicately’ through a broker service transformation
With long-term investments coming to fruition, the MGA group’s recently appointed chief executive sets out how broker service improvements will promise a return to a five star rating and drive growth in 2026
-
IT InterviewVictoria Sutton: Howden’s claims director on bringing back leadership in the sector
‘There’s often a confusion in thinking that you need to be a manager to be a leader, but you don’t, you don’t necessarily need to be doing the management bit – you can just be a leader,’ says business performance director
