Gallagher tweaks top tier market management leadership with Aon hire in growth push

Global insurance broker  Gallagher has shuffled the top tier of its market management team with a senior Aon hire and creation of a new chief broking officer position in the UK. The move aims to deepen its relationships with insurers and clients.

The company has hired Richard Laver (pictured) as new market management director for its UK operations. Laver joins Gallagher from Aon where he has spent the last ten years as managing director in Aon Inpoint, responsible for managing global insurer relations across property & casualty, health & benefits plus reinsurance.

Laver has worked across markets including the UK, Lloyd's, US, APAC and LatAm and has extensive experience in strategic relationship management with global insurers. He has held senior roles at Aston Scott, Cobra and AXA.

In his new leadership role, Laver will head up all elements of Gallagher’s market management team which includes insurer relationship management, insurer compliance, and providing the business with market insight. He will report to Charles Crawford, chief operations officer, EMEA, and will join early Q2 2022.

Ron Hayes, currently market management director, will move into a newly created chief broking officer role, reporting to Simon Matson, chief executive officer of Europe, Middle East and Asia (EMEA). He will be responsible for shaping the placement strategy for Gallagher in the UK and will move into his role in Q1 2022.

Hayes has worked in the London Market for over 37 years, and been at Gallagher since 2012 overseeing market management during a time of significant growth for the business. During his career he has held senior roles at both Marsh and JLT, involving both development of placement strategy and handling major clients.

“We are delighted that Ron is moving into a new role where he will be a key ambassador for Gallagher in the market. Richard is a first-rate addition to my leadership team and will enable us to further develop our insurer relationships, as well as lead our market management team, who play a hugely important role within Gallagher,” said Crawford.

“Both these appointments reflect our ongoing commitment to investing in industry-leading talent, enabling us to pursue our ambitions for further growth.”

Laver commented: “I am excited and looking forward to joining Gallagher in spring next year and starting a new chapter of my career. I am thrilled to be working with the team and will be focused on further deepening our relationships with insurers to benefit our clients. Gallagher has been on an impressive growth journey over recent years and I look forward to playing my part in its continued expansion.”

Hayes added: “I have hugely enjoyed my role at Gallagher leading the market management team and I am looking forward to helping Gallagher establish its position as a thought leader in placement as it continues to grow.”

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