Towergate hires new legal head as Jennifer Owens departs

Towergate has hired Geoff Gouriet (pictured) as its new general counsel.

He replaces general counsel and company secretary Jennifer Owens, who has decided to leave the broking group.

Owens joined Towergate in November 2013.

Gouriet joins Towergate from law firm Stephenson Harwood, where he is a partner in the corporate team.

He was previously head of the corporate division at law firm Lawrence Graham, a role he continued to hold in the combined Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co following a merger in May 2014.

Towergate chief executive David Ross said: “Geoff brings extensive transactional experience to our executive team, complementing our transformational ambitions and I am delighted that he wants to be a part of the Towergate story.

“Jennifer Owens leaves Towergate with our very best wishes and thanks for ably guiding the legal function through a challenging period including a highly complex financial restructuring in 2015.”

Gouriet added: “There is no doubting the opportunity which Towergate has to build on a unique position in the UK insurance sector.

“I am very much looking forward to helping navigate a complex path of corporate activity as we make best possible use of our agility to add value and to drive growth.”