Gallagher names new chief broking officer

Gallagher in the UK & Ireland has announced the appointment of Simon Collings (pictured) as its new chief broking officer, pending regulatory approval. Collings, set to join the company’s UK executive team, will report to Michael Rea, CEO of Gallagher in the UK.

Collings brings more than three decades of experience in the insurance industry. Most recently, he served as managing director of Gallagher’s national broking and placement team within the UK & Ireland Retail division. He joined the firm in 2017 as market management director for UK Retail. Prior to his tenure at Gallagher, he held several senior roles at Marsh, JLT, and Miller, with a focus on placement strategies.

In his new executive role, Collings will lead Gallagher’s broking strategy across the UK & Ireland, overseeing both its expansive Retail operations and its London-market Specialty division. He and his team will focus on strengthening relationships with insurers to secure optimal outcomes for clients.

“I joined Gallagher seven years ago and have seen the business go from strength to strength,” Collings said in a statement. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to move into this newly created role. I will be focused on bringing together all our insurer relationship teams to deliver the very best client solutions and ensure our relationships with the market are second to none.”

Enhancing broking capabilities

Collings emphasised the importance of broker-client relationships for both retaining and growing Gallagher’s business. He expressed his commitment to strengthening these ties and enhancing the company’s broking capabilities, while also working to develop new insurance products.

Rea described Collings as a “fantastic addition” to the executive team, highlighting his proven track record in developing successful broking strategies. “[Simon] will play a pivotal role in steering our broking and placement teams to deliver insurance solutions that mitigate the risks facing our clients,” he said.

He also praised the decision to promote from within the organisation: “The fact that we have been able to make this key executive appointment from within our existing team speaks volumes about the level of talent we have at Gallagher, and Simon will be instrumental as we continue our success story.”

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