Startup private client broker appoints industry stalwart as new chairman

Taurus Risk Management has appointed industry veteran James Agnew as its new chairman as the London-based startup looks to accelerate its expansion across commercial and private client markets.

Agnew, who previously founded and sold his broker in a £260m deal, brings more than three decades of market experience to the specialist broker.

Taurus said Agnew would work closely with its leadership team to strengthen its position as a partner for UK customers and support long-term strategic plans. 

Thomas Beckett, co-founder at Taurus, said that Agnew’s arrival represented a strong endorsement of the broker’s client-first approach.

He noted that the business was entering “an immensely exciting period of growth” and now had “a compelling mix of youthful drive and grey hair to drive the business forward”.

Importance of service

Agnew said his role would be to help guide the next phase of development as Taurus expanded its specialist offering. He added that his 30-year career had reinforced the importance of service in a market where speaking to a real person was “harder and harder”.

He said: “We are different to most insurance brokers because we will always put the client first. At Taurus, we combine the human factor with technology – any of our clients can talk to us whenever they need to.

“I think we can give a different prospective view to clients, be it commercial or private.”

‘He brings unparalleled experience and is a true stalwart of the industry,’ says founder