Royal & SunAlliance (R&SA)has announced that Brendan McManus is to leave the company to become chief executive of Willis UK & Ireland, from August this year.

The insurer said: “Brendan has been instrumental in restructuring R&SA's Broker business. He has built a strong management team with expertise in sales, operations and specialist trading areas.”

Bridget McIntyre, UK chief executive of R&SA, commented: "Brendan has had a huge influence on our business over the two decades that he has worked for the company.

"He is a talented individual with a strong presence in the market. We are sad to see him go but delighted that he has such an important role with one of our significant partners and we look forward to continuing to work with him in the future.”

The process to appoint a successor for Brendan is underway.