Knights Commercial Insurance
Graham Wedgbury has started up his own insurance brokerage called Knights Comercial Insurances in the centre of Gloucester. He was previously an account executive at JLT Group Services and before that was with Willis Corron in Bristol. The new entity is part of Knights which provides accountancy and tax services.
Cox Lee
David Thornton has been appointed as account manager to Cox Lee & Co in Walsall. He previously spent almost 40 years with General Accident in the Birmingham and most recently was national broker unit manager at CGU. He will be in charge of the new broker businesses which Cox Lee is acquiring. Also, Wendy Cole, who was previously with Rees Insurance, is joining the company. She previously worked with Rees Insurance which Cox recently bought.
Miller Firstline
John Parkinson has been appointed deputy managing director at Miller Firstline. Formerly managing director at Columbus, Parkinson has 20 years experience in the industry, largely with GA. Also, Declan Mundy has joined the sales team where he will focus on developing new business with large corporate clients.
Wilby
Bob Brownlee has been appointed as managing director of Halifax brokers Wilby. Brownlee was formerly with Axa and Provincial, and will assist chairman, Peter Wilby, in the company's development.
Loss Adjusters
Crawford & Company
Mark Thompson has been appointed country manager for Australia at Crawford & Company. Thompson, a qualified loss adjuster and chartered accountant, has been transferred from Johannesburg,where he was a member of the management team. His principal expertise has been gained as a specialist heavy property/business interruption adjuster.
Insurers and Reinsurers
Groupama
Stephen Albutt has been appointed head of the accident and health team at Groupama. He will be assisted by Paul Hampshire who has been appointed deputy manager.
Cox
Sian Aspinall has been appointed to the underwriting team at Cox Political Risks Unit (CPRU). She joins the firm from AIG Europe (UK) where she was assistant president. She has eight years experience underwriting wholesale broker accounts and maintaining direct overseas clients.
Ecclesiastical
David Eastwood has been appointed insurance consultant and surveyor for the direct field operations team at Ecclesiastical. Eastwood has worked in the insurance industry since 1971.
BMS Re
Jonathan Morris has been appointed managing director of BMS Re, the London Market and speciality reinsurance subsidiary of BMS Group. He was previously with Lloyd's broker Alwen Hough Johnson. Also, Paul Thyer and Nick Edwards have been appointed to the company. They were formerly with Alwen Hough Johnson and Aon Group respectively.
Ocaso
David Brierly has been appointed as business producer for Spanish insurance company Ocaso S A. Formerly with Abbey National, Brierly will continue to build new broker business in the North of England.
Royal London
Mark Worboyes has been appointed group compliance director of Royal London. He was previously group supervision manager with the Financial Services Authority.
Donns
Clive Robb has been appointed claims manager with personal injury specialists Donns solicitors. In his new role Robb will specialise in the firm's uninsured loss recovery business.
Lloyd's
Crowe
Janet Helson has been appointed as underwriter, and Jamie Lewis as deputy underwriter, of Syndicate 1204. Formerly, both were class underwriters with S J O Caitlin. They will work to develop the professional indemnity sector of the Lloyd's market.
Benfield Greig
Shadow Chancellor Francis Maude and former chief executive of HSBC Dr Keith Harris, have been appointed as a non-executive directors of Benfield Greig.
Harvey Bowring & Others
John Mumford has been appointed underwriter of Harvey Bowring & Others, the property casualty business of Syndicate 2001. He is currently active underwriter of Syndicate 1141. Trevor Clegg has been appointed active underwriter of Syndicate 1141 until it is merged with Syndicate 2001.
Miscellaneous
Guardian iT
Ian Cockburn has been appointed European managing director of Guardian iT, where he will be responsible for developing operations in continental Europe.
