Going Places

Brokers

Bridge
Bridge Insurance Brokers has appointed Allister Meal as risk management development director.

Meal comes to Bridge with 17 years commercial insurance and risk management experience, having previously held positions with Municipal Mutual and Aon. For the past six years he worked for Marsh as a consultant within the business risk consulting division.

Lucas Fettes & Partners
Lucas Fettes & Partners (Northern) has appointed Rob Higgins as claims manager in its Manchester office.

Higgins joins from Cunningham Lindsey and brings with him 16 years' claims experience.

Jim Howells has also joined as a claims technician. He joins from Seniorwright and brings with him 30 years' claims handling experience.

Heath Lambert
Heath Lambert Group has appointed Tim Murphy as a director of claims management services. He moves to Heath Lambert after 13 years with Jardine Lloyd Thompson.

The group also announced the retirement of Ian Martin, executive chairman.

Adrian Colosso takes over as chief executive. Mike Bruce becomes managing director and Richard Sansom continues as financial director.

Insurers

Aegis
Aegis syndicate 1225 is to expand into cargo business with the appointment of a new underwriting team. David Allen, senior cargo underwriter, and Scott Sykes, cargo and specie underwriter, both join from Euclidian.

Allen has 32 years' experience in marine insurance including spells at General Accident and New Zealand Insurance Co.

Sykes has worked in a variety of roles since 1988, becoming a deputy cargo underwriter for Cox in 1992 before moving to Euclidian in 2000.

Markel International

Markel International has promoted David Jones and David Armes to joint divisional managing directors of Markel's professional and financial risk division.

Together they bring over 40 years' experience. They have been with Markel since 2001.

Reinsurer

Guardian General
Guardian Holdings has appointed of Dr. Terrence Farrell, group executive director of Guardian Holdings, as President of Guardian General (GGL).

As president of GGL, Farrell brings international experience in developing close relationships with the business's key stakeholders and clients.

Legal

Plexus law
Plexus Law has recruited Justin Collins to join its property team in London. Collins joins from Vizards Wyeth and has nine years' experience across the full range of defendant insurance litigation. He has particular expertise in subsidence and material damage claims.

Other

Argent
Argent Liability Adjusters has appointed Michael Hodgson as a senior adjuster at its Bristol office.

Hodgson joins Argent from Garwyn and has 14 years' experience across all aspects of employers' and professional liability, and personal injury adjusting. His previous experience includes positions at Crawford & Co and PCS.

Healthsure
Healthcare benefit provider HealthSure has made four new appointments. Neil Graham joins as account development coordinator manager while Lien Pham and Paul Driver both take up positions as account development co-ordinators. Katherine Howell joins as marketing administrator while also providing intermediary support.

Absolute
Absolute Customer Management has appointed Leah Scott-Allen as client relationship manager.

Scott-Allen joins from Motorcare UK, where she was client manager.

KPMG
Justin Musson and Yvonne Flachsmann have joined KPMG's corporate insurance review team.

Musson joins from the Primary Group where he was a member of the strategic development team and Flachsmann joins from Swiss Re and Advantis, both based in Zurich.

Aquilo
Alan Hodgkinson, managing director of Aquilo Motor Services, of which ABS is a part, is to retire from the company at the end of March.

Hodgkinson was one of the founders of ABS in 1995

Mills & Reeve
Mills & Reeve's London office has appointed Andrew Crouchman as a consultant, who joins the insurance team.

Crouchman, an experienced international lawyer, joins from City firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.

VBRA
The Vehicle Builders & Repairers Association (VBRA) has appointed Malcolm Tagg as replacement for retiring director general Ron Nicholson.

Tagg joins the Association from insurance broker THB Clowes, where he has been a divisional director since 2002.

TAH
The Financial Services Division of TAH has appointed Phil Evans as head of strategy, consulting and operations, and Rob Mellor as head of sales and marketing.

Prior to joining TAH, Evans was consulting director for Business Critical Intelligence and Perspective Management.

He was previousy with Compass Management Consulting, Norwich Union and Churchill.

QuestGates
QuestGates has appointed Chris Lewis to take operational responsibility for its liability division. Previously regional manager at PCS, Lewis started his career with Iron Trades before entering loss adjusting in 1988 and transferring to PCS on its formation in 1997.

Lewis' responsibilities at QuestGates include training and development, quality improvement, setting and monitoring compliance with service standards, and improving, implementing and auditing systems.

Profile

Mike Fieldhouse
Smart & Cook, the Newcastle-based independent broker, has appointed ex-Marsh associate director Mike Fieldhouse as account executive. Fieldhouse will have responsibility for managing and developing predominantly new commercial insurance accounts.

Fieldhouse has over 30 years' experience in the insurance market. He says: "Joining Smart and Cook is an exciting challenge for me. It is a well-respected broker business with a proven track record and significant ambitions for the future. I am delighted to be bringing my experience and expertise to the company."

Fieldhouse lives in Corbridge with his partner and four sons. Outside of work is heavily involved in junior rugby coaching. He also sits on the management board at Tynedale Rugby Club, and is an avid supporter of the Newcastle Falcons.