’Regulatory requirements and increased Consumer Duty are making it more difficult for smaller independent companies to operate, consequently we felt it was time to pass the baton,’ says partner
Hagerty International has acquired the renewal rights of specialist classic car insurer Gilbart-Smith Associates.
Gilbart-Smith Associates has been operational since 1998 and serves clients that own a range of classic and enthusiast vehicles.
The acquisition sees Hagerty International become the appointed broker for existing Gilbart-Smith Associates policy renewals.
As part of the deal, Bertie and Emma-Jane Gilbart-Smith will act as consultants for Hagerty International over the next 12 months.
Mark Roper, managing director at Hagerty International, said: “I have worked with, and known personally, Bertie and Emma-Jane for a number of years and we have always been aligned in the way we do business.
”I look forward to welcoming their clients with our innovative products and solutions, as well as our unique client membership experiences as they renew with us and assure them of our highest levels of service, at all times.”
Regulation
The deal is effective from today (1 September 2025).
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Bertie Gilbart-Smith said that regulation requirements made his firm believe that it was time to “pass the baton”.
“Regulatory requirements and increased Consumer Duty are making it more difficult for smaller independent companies to operate, consequently we felt it was time to pass the baton,” he said.
”We are delighted Hagerty International, with whom we have enjoyed a strong working relationship for some years, have acquired our book of business. Hagerty has the same interests as us, along with an excellent reputation in the market and will continue to offer a personal service to our clients.“
His career began in 2019, when he joined a local north London newspaper after graduating from the University of Sheffield with a first-class honours degree in journalism.
He took up the position of deputy news editor at Insurance Times in March 2023, before being promoted to his current role in May 2024.View full Profile
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