It’s been a busy morning for insurance broker and risk management company Marsh – one in which it’s named two new CEOs.
Its first is on the UK & Ireland patch, where Chris Lay (pictured) will take up the position, reporting to Flavio Piccolomini, president of Marsh International. He will also be appointed as CEO of Marsh Limited, all subject to regulatory approval. Lay was previously the CEO of Marsh Canada but will now move back to London from Toronto.
“Our UK & Ireland business has long enjoyed an enviable reputation for the services and solutions it provides to large UK and multinational clients,” said Piccolomini. “More recently, it has also become the UK’s leading SME insurance broker and risk adviser. With a long track record of success working with companies of all sizes around the world, Chris is the ideal leader to further build our client offering in the UK & Ireland.”
Lay has been with the company for 30 years and held a host of senior roles – including president of global captive solutions, head of global sales and business development leader for Marsh International. He was also on the board of Marsh Limited from 2007-2016 and will succeed Mark Weil who is leaving Marsh to take up a role in the private equity sector.
“I am excited to be returning to the UK to lead a high-performing team I know well,” said Lay. “As companies face an increasingly complex operating environment – navigating risks such as cyber and Brexit – Marsh is well-placed to be the trusted adviser to firms of all sizes. Through its market-leading data and analytics capabilities, Marsh is investing in the innovations that will enable firms to manage these risks more effectively.”
With Lay moving back to the UK, Sarah Robson has been appointed as president and CEO of Marsh Canada, reporting to Martin South, president of Marsh US and Canada. Robson had been serving as managing director of Marsh’s US business and global relationship manager for its Insurer Consulting Group. She boasts more than 25 years of experience with the firm and has deep experience of the Canadian marketplace, having started her career as an underwriter in Canada with Chubb and eventually moving into the position of financial and professional practice leader and then specialties leader for Marsh Canada.
“We are excited to appoint Chris and Sarah to lead these important regions for us,” said John Doyle, president and CEO of Marsh. “They are talented, long-tenured Marsh executives who will bring a strong focus on our priorities of colleagues, clients and growth.”
