Howden buys commercial broker to boost UK-based expertise

International broker Howden has bought Ross Insurance Group, a commercial lines broker that works with corporate and technology clientele.

The deal marks the next stepping stone in Howden’s ongoing strategy to provide specialist expertise and high quality service to UK and global clients.

Ross Insurance Group primarily serves clients in the financial services, technology, construction, property management and vehicle leasing sectors, focusing on covering financial and construction risks and managing complex global programmes.

Speaking on the transaction, Sarah Hughes, head of financial lines at Howden, said: “Our relentless focus on expertise and investing in specialist skills is underlined by this highly complementary partnership with Ross Insurance Group, [which brings] significant experience and in-depth industry knowledge.

“[It has] established an exceptional reputation for listening and understanding client needs and using innovative thinking to achieve tailored solutions. We are addicted to attracting the very best talent to Howden for the benefit of our clients.”

Reaching the ‘next level’

Howden’s latest buy follows its purchase of Aston Lark in October 2021.

Mark Ross, chief executive of Ross Insurance Group, added: “We are already working with Howden on certain client accounts and can clearly see that it is the obvious broker of choice for like-minded companies looking to continue their growth and do more for their clients.

“As an employee-owned firm with a people first culture, Howden is an excellent fit for our team as we look to take the business to the next level, where we will benefit from its scale, market access, breadth of expertise and investments in technology and digital solutions.

“We look forward to continuing our journey with the Howden team.”