Cowens Group’s Cowens Survival Capability has promoted senior managers Declan Shaw, Mark Wilson, and Karl Sutcliffe to the insurance broker’s board of directors.
“High-quality, independent commercial insurance brokers are becoming something of an endangered species as technology becomes more dominant within the industry,” said Cowens Survival Capability managing director Paul Chaplin.
“Cowens Group will be 50 years old next year, and these new board appointments will further strengthen our position in continuing to deliver high-quality, impartial advice and insurance products into the future, where the only driver is the clients’ best interests. I’m delighted that we have been able to promote from within our own team and am excited about the future with Declan, Mark, and Karl at the helm.”
Shaw, now 31, has been with the Midlands-based business since he was 16, starting out as a trainee broker. Prior to his board director appointment, the company stalwart joined the management board in 2020.
“I am delighted to have been made a director of Cowens Survival Capability, a business I have spent my whole career working for – and I am excited to be playing a role in the next generation of the company,” said Shaw.
“I’m thankful to the managing director, Paul, and all of the team for their support throughout this journey. The staff turnover at Cowens Group is extremely low, and I am a testament to that – the close-knit, family ethos of the company gives hard-working individuals incredible opportunities to build a career path for life.”
Wilson’s industry credentials, meanwhile, span more than three decades, over 12 years of which have been with the brokerage. Before being promoted to sit on the board, he served as sales director from 2017.
“I am really pleased to have been appointed as a board director,” declared the 52-year-old. “Paul Chaplin has put in place fantastic foundations for the company, and the three of us will continue to work alongside him and our fellow directors to build on our success.
“We have a real vision for the future of the business, and I believe our collaborative approach, together with the fantastic support of our brilliant staff, will enable us to accomplish something really special as we continue to grow.”
Wilson added: “These appointments to the board from within the team demonstrate positive business planning and long-term succession, which will help retain and grow confidence in Cowens as a trusted chartered broker who always puts our clients first.”
Echoing his peers’ sentiments, Sutcliffe also pointed to the benefits of their appointment.
“This promotion to main board director is not only a positive move for all of three of us on a personal level; it should have considerable positive knock-on effects for the company, our staff, and, most importantly, our client-base,” stated the former broking director who came onboard in 2000 at age 19.
“We’ve seen excellent growth over the past few years, and I believe a lot of that comes as a result of our attention to detail, personalised service, and the real care we have for our clients. Paul has worked incredibly hard to create a team that reflects that ethos, and I’m excited to now be at the forefront of it.”
With offices in Mansfield, Stamford, and Milton Keynes, Cowens Survival Capability is an independent commercial insurance broker and risk management consultant. It is part of Cowens Group, offerings of which also include financial planning, mortgage solutions, and employee benefits services.
