AJG poaches two Towergate execs

Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) has poached two Towergate executives as it seeks to strengthen the senior management team of its e-MGA division.

Andy Westby, currently chief executive officer (CEO) of volume underwriting at Towergate, will join AJG as managing director of the division.

Simon Lewer, currently trading director of volume underwriting at Towergate, will join AJG as underwriting director.

They will report to Mark Armitage, managing director of MGA, AJG’s transactional underwriting division, which operates alongside the delegated authority underwriting division, or MGU.

Armitage said: “In a very short space of time the combined talent, ambition, technical expertise and innovative flair of the e-MGA teams have delivered growth beyond expectation while diversifying into risk areas that have been crying out for auto-rated, online-traded propositions.

“I am in no doubt that the excellent leadership and strong underwriting credentials that Andy and Simon bring to the team will quickly propel our e-MGA into the next phase of its strategic development, while delivering strong financial returns for our

The appointment of Westby and Lewer follows confirmation that Adrian Brown will join AJG as executive chairman of underwriting & distribution on 1 September 2014.