Howden agrees to acquire Aviva-backed Scottish insurance scheme after review

Howden has agreed to acquire the insurance services from the Church of Scotland, following a strategic review of its insurance provision.

Church of Scotland Insurance Services (Cosis) has historically arranged cover for Church properties through a bespoke scheme with Aviva.

Following the acquisition, Howden will take on the administration of the scheme and continue servicing clients from its Edinburgh office.

All operational Cosis employees will transition to Howden’s Scottish commercial team. 

Graeme Christie, Scottish commercial director at Howden, said: “Howden is very excited to welcome our new colleagues and clients from Cosis.

“This agreement has been long in the making and I’m proud of the way both teams have worked together to ensure the client transition will be as smooth as possible. We’re confident that our professional insurance and risk services will exceed expectations and provide long-term value to congregations.”

Planned retirement

The move comes following the Church’s decision to step away from direct involvement in insurance ahead of the planned retirement of Cosis’ directors.

Barry Clarkson, chief executive at Cosis, will remain to oversee deregulation before retiring, ensuring continuity of service and maintaining relationships with congregations.

Clarkson said: ”We are delighted to partner with Howden, a leading UK insurance broker with a strong presence in Scotland and deep expertise in the not-for-profit and heritage sectors. We needed a partner that truly understands the risks faced by congregations and shares our commitment to providing the very best protection.

”Howden offered something different. A customer-centric broker, large enough to influence the market, yet focused on delivering local service.”