A guide to this week's movements in the insurance industry

Broker

Alexander Forbes
Alexander Forbes has expanded its corporate risks and international business in Newcastle with the appointment of two senior staff.

Michael Farrell becomes development. He previously worked for Aon in Newcastle in a similar role.

Anthony Place joins Alexander Forbes as regional broking director for the Northern region. Place has almost 20 years' insurance experience and will be responsible for placement strategy and insurer relationship management. He also previously worked for Aon, Newcastle.

Bollington Group
Ken Lappin has been appointed to head Bollington Commercial in Manchester.

Lappin's task is to develop the new city centre office and further strengthen relationships with insurers. He was formerly operations director at Richard Thackers.

Equity
Equity Insurance Group has appointed Yuseph Hedar, to assist with the significant expansion of Equity's breakdown recovery operation.

Hedar joined Green Flag National Breakdown in 1981 as sales and marketing director and became chief executive in 1994.

FMW
Lee O'Conner has been appointed account executive at Essex based brokers FMW. He joins from Alexander Forbes. O'Conner began his career in 1999 at Hill House Hammond.

RFIB
RFIB Group has announced that John Northridge has joined the board as a non executive director.

Northridge was chairman and chief executive of Alfred Blackmore for 15 years until its acquisition by Alexander Forbes, in 2001.

Following the acquisition, he was a director of Alexander Forbes.

Insurer

Towergate Partnership
Towergate Partnership has appointed Rob Watson as regional marketing manager for the North. He was previously marketing manager with Accord Mortgages and has held various marketing positions in insurance.

Watson will be part of the North regional team based in Leeds.

Insurex Expo-Sure
Tunbridge Wells based event insurer Insurex Expo-Sure, part of Hiscox, has appointed two new managers.

Anne Pearsall is the new underwriting operations manager responsible for the operations team. This includes nine underwriters specialising in writing event and exhibition insurance. She previously worked for 12 years at Saga.

Mark Blair is the new sales and marketing manager and is responsible for generating new business via professional conference and event organisers. He was previously at Marsh.

Legal

Halliwells
Halliwells has strengthened its marine and transport team with the appointment of associate George Dawson.

Dawson, who joins Halliwells from DLA in Manchester, will work closely with partners Duncan Ross and Richard Atha as the firm builds its marine and transport capabilities.

Scott Rees
Personal injury specialists Scott Rees & Co Solicitors has appointed 11 new members of staff. They are:

  • Greg Bannister, team leader and senior litigation executive

  • Peter Bland, costs team leader

  • Suzanne Chapman, legal executive

  • Claire Cushley, claims administrator

  • Gareth Deary, senior litigation executive

  • Stephen Hewitt, claims handler

  • Simon Horrocks, senior litigation executive

  • Daniel Klein, solicitor

  • Catherine Lloyd-Jones, solicitor

  • Sarah McArdle, claims administrator

  • Rachel Murray, senior litigation executive.

    • Berrymans Lace Mawer
    Berrymans Lace Mawer has appointed fraud specialist Sarah Hill to boost its dedicated unit dealing with fraudulent claims. She has expertise in both fraudulent personal injury claims and corporate fraud.

    Loss adjuster

    Garwyn
    Following the recent MBO Simon Ellen has been appointed non executive chairman of liability adjusters Garwyn.

    In addition, the following members of staff have been promoted: Matthew Brooker becomes group operations director; John Price, compliance director; Kevin Foakes, Jon Fitzsimons, Simon Hisock, Lesley Johnson and Michael Maher have all been promoted to regional directors, and Matthew Johnson to services director.

    Technology

    Misys
    The Misys Countrywide network has expanded its fleet placement team with the appointment of Alan West and Cindy Smith.

    West previously worked for AXA, managing its southern fleet accounts. He brings over 20 years' insurance experience to his new role as Countrywide fleet sales technician.

    An internal promotion sees Smith join the team. Having worked within Countrywide's broker relations division for over two years, she becomes fleet sales technician.

    Total Systems
    Total Systems has made appointments to its sales team.

  • Fraser Smith joins as senior account manager from Focus Solutions.

  • Andy Nightingale joins as business solutions manager in a newly-created role

  • Mark Grant joins as business development manager

  • Emma Howell becomes marketing manager

  • Vicky Hart joins as sales and marketing assistant.

    • Profile

    Belgravia
    Chester-based insurer Belgravia has appointed Lois Hinchcliffe to further strengthen its sales and development team. She joins from the Manchester office of Aon, where she was associate director.

    Belgravia is a bespoke insurance service, catering for the lifestyles of the rich and famous. During over 22 years of experience in the insurance industry, Hinchcliffe has worked with high net worth individuals and has provided insurance solutions for celebrities, sports stars and musicians.

    She says: "What I love most about being part of such a niche sector is the different types of people I meet. One day, I could be having afternoon tea with the Lord and Lady of the manor and the next I could be dining with a Premiership footballer.

    "Joining the team at Belgravia will give me the chance to start building new relationships within the same sector."

    Hinchcliffe enjoys walking, trekking, ski-ing and working out. She also likes cooking, reading and dining out. As well as the excitement of her new role at Belgravia, she is heading off to the Caribbean to get married later this month.

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