Steve Smout has ploughed his way back to McLarens, as the global loss adjusting firm prepares to launch an agriculture division.
Tapped to head McLarens Agriculture, Smout brings not only three decades of industry experience but also agricultural risks know-how. The Chartered loss adjuster and agriculturist, whose experience includes time spent at McLarens Capita, made the switch to agricultural loss adjusting in 1990 after starting his career on an arable dairy farm.
An Agriculture degree-holder, Smout will be in charge of overseeing a team of adjusters working across the UK and Ireland. His remit covers the full spectrum of agricultural losses including property, casualty, revenue, equine, and livestock.
“The business of agriculture is increasingly multi-faceted and continues to evolve well beyond farming, from farm shops and events to food production and distribution,” commented the new agriculture head. “Agri-clients require both a broad commercial loss adjusting skillset and considerable knowledge and insight about the markets in which they operate.
“McLarens already has a wealth of agricultural expertise, as well as experience and resources in tangential markets that may prove valuable to clients. I’ll be looking to build upon this existing capability, to ensure we’re offering genuine agricultural expertise across the board. I’m delighted to be taking on the role.”
Among Smout’s priorities is to integrate the existing Agrical operation within the new agriculture practice, which will be officially unveiled this quarter. McLarens snapped up specialist rural adjuster Agrical in 2013.
“The renewed focus and expansion of our agriculture capabilities within our family of McLarens specialist practices is a natural development designed to enhance our agricultural proposition to existing and prospective clients in this important market,” noted Steven Wallace, UK managing director at McLarens.
Citing the key arrival’s reputation and expertise, McLarens executive director David Gillan commented: “We’ve already received a high level of support and interest from insurers and brokers in seeing how we can build our agricultural practice with Steve at the helm.”
