James Hallam, one of the UK’s largest independent insurance brokers, has expanded its presence in Scotland with the appointment of Jamie Johnstone in Edinburgh.
Johnstone, who has spent 14 years in the London insurance market at Price Forbes and Arthur J. Gallagher, will work alongside Doug Smith and Ritchie Sherret to establish a new James Hallam office in the city. He will lead the new operation as client director.
"It is exciting to return to Edinburgh to lead James Hallam’s expansion in the east of Scotland. We have engaged with colleagues and business leaders, and many have highlighted concerns about declining service standards due to consolidation in the Scottish broking market,” Johnstone commented.
Smith, previously chairman of Corporate Risk PLC, will assist Sherret and Johnstone. He has held senior roles in the insurance sector, including as chairman of Johnston Higgins (UK) Ltd, non-executive deputy chairman of Willis Mergers and Acquisitions, chairman of Marsh (Scotland) Ltd, and chairman of Marsh UK Private Equity.
Sherret, whose brokerage Hendricks Insurance was acquired by James Hallam in March 2024, has built and sold two previous broking businesses. He will collaborate with Johnstone to grow the team.
The partnership between Johnstone, Smith and Sherret under James Hallam will revive the Corporate Risk banner, which was previously a key player in the Scottish insurance market.
“Time may have passed, but the success of Corporate Risk was built on the principle that clients always came first. The high levels of personal service we provided then can be repeated under the James Hallam banner,” Smith said.
Sherret, who has worked with Smith before, said he is looking forward to collaborating with him again, as well as with Johnstone. “While Doug and I may be considered veterans, our commitment to client service remains, and we aim to pass our experience to the next generation of professionals.”
Last year, Jamie Hallam’s parent firm Seventeen Group acquired Keith Miller Insurance Services and a book of business from Hendricks Insurance, adding £5.3 million in GWP to its portfolio. The acquisitions were expected to strengthen the group’s presence in Scotland and enhance its specialist offerings.
The Hendricks Insurance deal was expected to bring in a £2.8 million GWP book covering rural, commercial, and private client business. Meanwhile, Keith Miller Insurance Services was meant to enhance James Hallam’s hospitality and travel proposition.
