Top 50 Brokers 2011: 46th Ageas

Management: Under chief executive Barry Smith, the revenue of the UK retail broking division of insurer Ageas doubled to £50.8m in the first quarter of 2011. The division made a profit of £4.7m, up slightly on Q1 2010’s £4.4m.

Strategy: The acquisition of Castle Cover for £53m in March has pulled the insurer’s UK retail broking operation, which includes RIAS, Kwik-Fit and Ageas Insurance Solutions, into the Top 50.