BMS recruits international chairman from Marsh-JLT

Specialist (re)insurance broker BMS Group has appointed Peregrine Towneley as the group’s chairman of international operations. He joins from Marsh-JLT.

BMS said the appointment is part of its long-term growth strategy. Towneley will split his time between helping develop business for the London wholesale, property and energy teams and working closely with David Battman, managing director of international at BMS, focusing on the group’s expansion in Middle East and North Africa.

Towneley will report to Nick Cook, CEO of BMS. He will join the company upon completion of current contractual obligations.

Towneley joins BMS with more than 37 years’ experience in the international insurance market. Most recently, he has been Marsh’s chairman of Middle East and North Africa since the Marsh-JLT merger in April 2019. Prior to that, Towneley held the same title at the JLT Group since 2016, which he initially joined in 2005. At JLT, he held a series of senior roles, including chairman of the marine and energy division. In the course of his distinguished career, Towneley has worked for insurance companies in Middle East, Asia, North America and Europe, specialising in non-marine energy and property. He began his career at Sedgwick in 1983.

Cook said: “As we continue to expand our global platform, Peregrine’s vast experience in the global energy sector and his understanding of the Middle East and North African markets will be invaluable in supporting our international team. Alongside David Battman, he will lead the development of our international corporate strategy, with a particular focus on the Middle Eastern market and our growing US and international energy business. We have identified a number of opportunities to expand in those areas and I would therefore like to welcome Peregrine to BMS.”

Towneley added: “The current MENA market has plenty of disruptive opportunities for an independent, well-resourced broker like BMS, which has the appetite and clear vision needed to successfully grow in current conditions. BMS’s recent expansion has made a clear impression on the market and I look forward to working with the talented team here to further grow the business.”