It comes as the business announced a warchest of more than 1bn for investment in M&A, new initiatives and talentSpecialist insurance broker Howden has promoted Peter Blanc to head of mergers and acquisitions (M&A).A statement released today (24 April 2023) said the former executive chairman of Howden UK and Ireland will support the leadership team to deliver the groups strategy in building out its geographic reach and product expertise.He will report to the groups chief executive David Howden in his new role.Howden said Blanc was "well-placed" to undertake the position, with him having built-up Aston Lark before it was snapped up by Howden in April 2022."It is Peter who, in

It comes as the business announced a warchest of more than 1bn for investment in M&A, new initiatives and talent Specialist insurance broker Howden has promoted Peter Blanc to head of mergers and acquisitions (M&A). A statement released today (24 April 2023) said the former executive chairman of Howden UK and Ireland will support the leadership team to deliver the groups strategy in building out its geographic reach and product expertise. He will report to the groups chief executive David Howden in his new role. Howden said Blanc was "well-placed" to undertake the position, with him having built-up Aston Lark before it was snapped up by Howden in April 2022. "It is Peter who, in bringing Aston Lark to Howden, coined the phrase forever home," Howden said. "Having built Aston Lark from the ground up through his well-recognised ability to identify and execute high quality transactions with a deep-rooted cultural alignment, he is obviously very well-placed to support me and our leadership teams in the further development of our very healthy M&A pipeline as we begin the next chapter of our development." He added that the business will continue to "focus heavily" on its European reach as well as developing its wider global footprint with acquisitions of "high quality businesses". In addition to the move, Howden Group Holdings stated that it raised over 875m across both debt and equity, with total cash and facilities equating to over 1bn available for investment in M&A, new initiatives and talent. The group also finalised a $500m (403m) seven-year term loan on 24 March, with more than 60 lenders providing capital. The business also increased its revolving credit facility from 185m to 360m across a range of banking relationships. Howden said that with the companys new "financial firepower", the firms focus had now turned to three "key areas". "[This includes] unlocking the extraordinary value within the group by harnessing our collected power, attracting talent and aligned businesses and investing in our infrastructure to ensure our experts are empowered to do their best for our clients," he added.

Howden

Howden Insurance Brokers

Howden M&A

Howden appoints Peter Blanc to head of M&A

Insurance

Insurance Brokers

Reinsurance

Insurance Brokers | Intermediaries

Non-Life Insurance

Life | Health | Pensions

Howden | Peter Blanc | Head, Mergers & Acquisitions | EMEA

Global broker Howden has bolstered its aviation expertise with a series of high-profile hires from WTW and Gallagher. With the strategic hires, the broker seeks to further grow its aerospace and airline business. David Greengrass, Dane Bird, Matthew Giddings and Mike Hart will all join Howdens aviation division. Greengrass joins from WTW where he spent six years in the airline team as executive director. Prior to that, he began his career at Marsh & McLennan. Bird also joins from WTW as a senior account handler/broker in September and has specialist aerospace capabilities. Giddings will join the company from Arthur J Gallagher in September as a divisional director. He is an aerospace broker with nearly 20 years of experience in programme design and management of aerospace clients. Hart has experience in the hull war sector and will support the growth of Howdens airline and hull war client base. Jason Humphreys, global head of aviation, Howden, said: "It is a testament to Howdens reputation that we continue to attract experienced and market-leading talent to support the growth of our aerospace and airline business. The addition of such high calibre individuals will enhance our ability to deliver best-in-class solutions to our clients. Howdens aviation team has gone from strength to strength over the past few years and these hires demonstrate our continued commitment to building an unparalleled team."

Howden Strengthens The Team With New Hires From WTW & Gallagher

Hire

Finance & Investment

Insurance Services

Senior Account Broker

Senior Professional

Dane is a Senior Associate at WTW, having been promoted in April 2022. Prior to this role, he served as an Account Handler at WTW from September 2016. Before joining WTW, he worked as a Reception Administrator at The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust from April 2014 to September 2016. Dane attended Copleston High School from 2010 to 2016.

Divisional Director

Matthew is currently a Partner at Gallagher, a position he has held since June 2021. Prior to this role, he worked as an Associate at the same firm starting in June 2019. From June 2006 to June 2019, he served as a Placing Broker at Jardine Lloyd Thompson. Matthew attended Chingford Foundation School from 1998 to 2004.

Experienced parametric risk transfer professional, Gareth Davies, is to join global insurance and reinsurance broker Howden as Head of Parametric Solutions, Reinsurance News has learned. Davies is joining Howden from Price Forbes Re, where he most recently served as Managing Director, Parametric Solutions, for 11 months based in London. Prior to this, Davies spent around four months with Inver Re, The Ardonagh Groups global reinsurance broking arm, as Chairman of Parametrics. He joined Inver Re in May 2023 following more than three years with Price Forbes & Partners as an Executive Director, with a focus on parametric solutions and natural resources. From April 2018 to April 2020, Davies worked at Tysers with a focus on credit and political risk insurance and parametrics, and also spent more than three years with JLT Specialty as a Partner, again with a focus on parametrics and also credit and political risk. Earlier in his insurance and reinsurance industry career, which followed almost 13 years as a professional rugby player, Davies spent time with RFIB Group.

Howden | Peter Blanc | Head, Mergers & Acquisitions | EMEA

latest related moves