Hiscox appoints regional managers

Specialist insurer Hiscox has officially announced the appointment of regional managers for its UK broker business — Chris Hanson, Darren Love, Laura Garrard, and Alex Bailey.

This development is part of a broader initiative to reorganize the leadership structure of its regional network, aiming to expedite growth and bring underwriting decisions into closer proximity with brokers.

While the geographical locations of Hiscox’s seven UK regional branches will remain consistent, the overall leadership will be consolidated into four larger regions:

• Chris Hanson will serve as the regional manager for the North, overseeing Glasgow, Manchester, and York
• Alex Bailey has been designated as the regional manager for the Midlands, covering Birmingham and Colchester
• Laura Garrard is appointed as the regional manager for the South, which encompasses the Maidenhead branch she previously managed and the surrounding area
• Darren Love will continue in his current capacity as the regional manager for London

All regional managers will report to James Stewart-Smith, the broker sales director.

“We continue to evolve our regional businesses to drive growth and bring underwriting decisions closer to our brokers,” Stewart-Smith said. “The new regional structure allows for scale under each leader, delivering a more consistent and efficient service.

“Over time, we will increase the number of specialist underwriters dedicated to each region, giving brokers easier local access to deep expertise. We are actively recruiting in our regional businesses to bolster local capability, alongside on-going investment in existing talent. These changes also better reflect the structures and geographies in which our brokers operate.”

Recently, the specialist insurer also announced that Gareth Hemming has stepped into a new role as chief distribution officer for Hiscox UK.

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