Marsh appoints UK & Ireland construction industry leader

Broker  Marsh has appointed a new UK & Ireland construction industry leader. He will report to Scot Peachey, CEO of the UK construction, infrastructure & surety practice at  Marsh Specialty and Charles Beresford-Davies, head of industries, UK & Ireland.

In his new role, Andy Desmond will bring together construction sector, technical, placement and risk management specialists from across Marsh UK’s national and London-based specialty businesses, to support Marsh’s construction clients.

Desmond has specialised in the construction sector throughout his 25-year career. He has practised as both broker and as a client buyer, notably as the Insurance Manager at Kier Group Plc working on projects as Crossrail, Mersey Gateway, HS2, and Hinkley Point. Since moving to Marsh over a year ago to lead the UK Business Development Team, Desmond has focused on contractor, owner and developers business.

Commenting on the appointment, Beresford-Davies said: “The UK construction industry faced a host of setbacks over the past year including the demands of remote working and the economic consequences of multiple national lockdowns. With ongoing budget challenges and heightened underwriting scrutiny, clients will need more support than ever to reach completion of their projects. I am confident that Andy will leverage his expertise in the sector to help clients mitigate the risks they now face.”

Desmond added: “Construction companies face complex and varied risks as the industry adapts to evolving challenges and opportunities such as the use of new materials and methods, digitisation, the impact of climate change and ESG and the threats posed by cyber-attacks. While the construction industry generally adapts well to change, the risk landscape over the last 12 months has undergone significant transformation, not least due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. I look forward to working with the team to help construction projects across the UK manage their risks effectively and enable them to succeed.”

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