Winslow to become broking group’s executive chairman on 1 July

Matthew Donaldson

Broking group BGL has named chief operating officer Matthew Donaldson as its new chief executive, replacing long-standing chief Peter Winslow.

Winslow will step aside from the chief executive’s role to become the group’s executive chairman.

Winslow said: “The time is now right for me to take a more strategic role and become less involved in the day-to-day running of the group.

“Matthew has demonstrated exceptional leadership ability as COO. I have total confidence in his drive, commercialism, intellect and passion for the business. He will make a first class CEO.”

The changes will take effect on 1 July.

Winslow has been chief executive of BGL since 1995. The company credited him with leading it through a period of “significant growth”.

He oversaw the company’s transition from underwriting to become an intermediary back in 1997, and led BGL’s expansion into new areas from claims management and insurance partnerships, to aggregation and international markets.

Winslow added: “I have been in this post for just over 18 years, and have presided over and enjoyed being part of massive change in our group from its days as a direct motor insurer to the business you see today. It has been challenging and it’s also been a lot of fun, and I look back and think how fortunate I was to join the group.”

Donaldson joined BGL in 1999 following the acquisition of a high street broker chain. He led the group’s entry into e-commerce, which led to the creation of price comparison site Comparethemarket.com.

He became group director in 2005 and group chief operating officer in 2010.