Chief executive has been with the company for more than 30 years

esser

Cooper Gay Swett & Crawford chief executive Toby Esser has stepped down after 14 years at the helm of the broking group.

CGSC’s non-executive chairman Martin Sullivan will assume Esser’s responsibilities until a replacement has been found.

Esser has worked at CGSC for more than 30 years and has been group chief executive since 2001.

In his time in charge he has grown the business to one with global revenues in excess of $350m (£225m).

Sullivan said: “Toby steered the business through the transformational merger with Swett and Crawford in 2010 and he has been fundamental to the success of CGSC.

“While Toby is stepping down as chief executive I am glad that we will continue to benefit from his counsel, and he remains a significant shareholder in the company.”

He added: “I look forward to working with CGSC’s very strong management team to build on 2014’s momentum and focus on profitable growth while providing our clients with best-in-class service.

“On behalf of the board of CGSC I would like to thank Toby for his extraordinary service to the company. He has been a central part of our history and success and we wish him well for the future.”

Esser said: ““I have been privileged to be part of the growth of CGSC over the past 30 years. To have spent virtually my entire career with a single company is testament to the quality of the colleagues, clients and underwriters with whom I have had the good fortune to work.”