2022 Speakers

Peter Blanc ACII is Head of M&A, Howden Group Holdings. He is based at Howden’s head office at One Creechurch Place in London.

Heading up Howden’s mergers and acquisition strategy allows Peter to fulfil his ambition of making Howden the world’s leading independent (re)insurance broker, employee benefits advisor and MGA.

With over 100 acquisitions of insurance broking and MGA businesses during his career, Peter is an industry veteran with decades of experience behind him. Notably, after starting his career in motor underwriting and then building his own commercial insurance brokerage, Peter has led three successful private equity exit events, totalling over £1.5 billion.  As CEO at Oval, he led the sale for £210m to Gallagher in 2014, and as Group CEO of Aston Lark, he led a round 1 sale for £325m in 2019 to Goldman Sachs and Aston Lark’s final exit to Howden for £1.1 billion in 2021.

Alongside these leadership roles, Peter has served as non-executive chairman of Hastings Insurance Services Ltd, as chairman of the Large Brokers’ Advisory Board at the British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) and in 2022 he served as President of the Chartered Insurance Institute. Peter has recently been reappointed to the BIBA Large Broker’s Advisory Board.

Peter is a passionate advocate of expert-led insurance leadership, employee-owned businesses and the Early Careers Programme; in short, using his own experiences and expertise to help make a difference to those around him.

Peter lives in Colchester, Essex, where he is a proud husband and the father of three grown-up children. He can often be found keeping fit on a bicycle, going to the gym, or mucking out his daughter’s horses! 

Head of Claims Clegg Gifford & Co, over 25 years of experience within the Insurance market. Held various positions within claims throughout my career, I am a creative, confident, and able individual who applies knowledge and skills to new and existing working practices. 

With experience in the industry spanning 30 years, Scott started his career at a local brokerage in Doncaster via a YTS scheme. He has built significant industry knowledge and connections through several regional and national roles and has worked in the network arena for more than 13 years.
Prior to joining Bravo Networks, Scott spent eight years working in Towergate in several senior sales roles. As Managing Director of Bravo Networks, Scott prioritises supporting regional brokers across the UK by using his significant relationships with insurers and providers across the industry to drive forward positive opportunities, while also shaping member propositions that help grow, protect, and support brokers’ businesses.
 

Karen has worked in various roles within the Insurance Industry for 33 years, across both brokers and insurers. Karen joined AXA eight years ago as Underwriting Manager for Scotland Commercial branch, before progressing to Regional Underwriting Manager for the North.  4 years ago Karen moved into her current role of Mid Market Development and Delivery Manager, focusing on our Vantage proposition.

Martyn is the Managing Director of Aon’s Affinity business in the UK, who concentrate in providing insurance solutions for consumers and SME businesses. Martyn has worked in the financial services for over 20 years, with experience ranging from start-up and SME through to Global businesses at an executive level. Martyn’s current focus is on high growth sectors, including the gig/ sharing economy, working with Insurtech providers to offer insurance that can help enable growth.

Grant entered the family business on a permanent basis in 2006 as Marketing Director. He quickly established it as a forward thinking, digitally minded broker. Working within a small, close knit and dynamic management team Grant played a significant role in developing TPG’s overall business strategy. That included the launch of Yellow Jersey Cycle Insurance and the pivoting of the Plan Insurance Brokers brand towards commercial lines.

In November 2017, Grant stepped up to become Group MD with a remit to deliver significant growth. Double digit organic revenue uplifts are being achieved and in 2019 Pedal Cover was acquired to complement the group’s already strong bicycle offering.

As the business expands its vital to Grant that an enjoyable, warm workplace atmosphere is maintained along with the provision of outstanding customer service. In the last 12 months the firm has been recognised by insurance industry awards for: Best SME Employer, Best Training & Development Program and Claims Team of the Year.

As an executive advisory board member for the UK Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ABDA), Carl is engrained in the renewable energy sector. With over 20 years’ experience in the insurance industry, he also heads up Marsh Commercial’s relationships with the Renewable Energy Association (REA) and ABDA.

Nic is Underwriting Manager for AXA’s SME Trading Centres, which manage a large volume of Property, Casualty and Motor business through the sites in Ipswich and Bolton. Nic has over 27 years’ experience in the insurance industry, beginning his career in broking before moving into underwriting 22 years ago. He held a number of underwriting roles across small business, mid-market and large corporate sectors for various insurers, before joining AXA in 2021.

Ben Howarth is the ABI’s Chief Sustainability Officer and leads the ABI’s work on sustainability, including climate change and related environmental issues, alongside responsibility for the ABI’s policy work on diversity, equity and inclusion and related issues, including modern slavery. In this role, he co-ordinates the ABI’s Climate Change taskforce and works closely with colleagues across the organisation on DEI.

He has been responsible for the ABI’s work on Climate Change since January 2021 and drafted the ABI’s Climate Change Roadmap. He has also previously been responsible for the ABI’s work on open data and was the ABI’s Brexit Manager on a secondment basis during 2018, responsible for the industry’s for the ‘onshoring’ of EU financial services legislation into UK law.

Between 2019 and 2021, he worked in the Director General’s office as DG Business Manager, supporting the DG with policy and market analysis. As part of this, he was part of the project team that launched the Covid-19 Support Fund, which raised £100m for a range of causes impacted by the pandemic. His first role at the ABI was as a policy adviser on Motor and Liability, focussing on automated driving, the ECJ Vnuk judgement, CMC regulation and road safety.

Ben began his career in an MP’s office, and his previous roles before joining the ABI including Research Manager at EUK Consulting and Operations Manager at DeHavilland.

Clare has been involved in the insurance industry for over 30 years. She’s held senior positions at three of the four largest insurance brokers in the London Market. In her early career, Clare was a London Market reinsurance broker focusing on advising Lloyd’s syndicates on their reinsurance programme.

Prior to joining SRG, Clare was chief executive of the London Market Group (LMG), a market-wide body bringing together the specialist commercial (re)insurance broking and underwriting communities to build on London’s position and reputation as the global centre of insurance excellence.

Clare joined LMG from JLT Specialty (now Marsh Specialty) where she was head of operations. In this role, she played a key role in JLT’s Brexit planning.

Clare has always been heavily involved with Market wide modernisation initiatives and whilst she was at the LMG she was the sponsor of the Future at Lloyd's data work stream.

Sue is a senior consultant, focused on conduct, culture and governance, with extensive professional  experience from small broker firms to large multinational banks and insurers.

With over 20 years’ financial services experience, Sue has a depth and breadth of regulatory knowledge  gained in Big 4 and specialist consultancies, along with practical industry experience with roles as Head of Compliance with general insurers, insurance intermediaries and a mortgage and consumer credit firm.

Sue is leading our offering on pricing practices, and she is currently assisting a range of firms in the development and implementation of their pricing practices and ’fair value’ assessment processes.

In addition, she has worked with a variety of firms in their implementation of the Senior Managers and  Certification Regime, and the Insurance Distribution Directive.

Sue’s has built and led Compliance functions at insurers, intermediaries, mortgage and consumer credit  firms and managed a number of successful authorisations, for both UK (FCA) and Irish (CBI) entities.

Having started her career at Friends Provident in 1997, she gained her ACII qualification and was an  examiner for the Chartered Insurance Institute.

Sandra is an experienced and qualified insurance professional with a wealth of experience in financial services, insurance broking, compliance and regulation. Having spent 30 years working in the insurance industry, she has a sound understanding of insurance broking operations and procedures from both a regulatory and practical perspective.

Sandra’s background includes working with broking firms on mergers, acquisitions, operational alignment and integration programs. She has led and supported numerous regulatory due diligence projects for both acquisition firms and vendors. She has delivered regulatory due diligence programs ranging from small to medium acquisitions to several multimillion pound deals.

A certified information privacy professional, Sandra also brings additional expertise and experience in Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Direct Marketing Rules (PECR). She has supported operational compliance, information auditing and implementation of GDPR and has delivered privacy awareness programs and training, including direct marketing across multiple organisations.

Steve Molloy is Director of Commercial Sales at AX.

Steve specialises in providing claims management solutions for the motor insurance and broker sectors.

Having worked for AX for 5 years, Steve has spent most of his career in and around the Insurance industry and its’ supply chain. Steve’s experience allows him to understand the operational and commercial challenges faced by AX’s partners and come up with solutions.

Steve is particularly interested in identifying how technology and data can help shape the future claims landscape having been heavily involved in developing AX’s Electric Vehicle strategy and positioning.

Nindy is a senior regulatory consultant, she provides a comprehensive range of risk and compliance  solutions to Insurers and Brokers. She has over 20 years’ experience in General Insurance. She specialises  in supporting clients in their implementation of regulatory change projects and has an exceptional  record managing SMCR implementation.

Nindy is adept in overseeing compliance projects, developing frameworks, designing and delivering  workshops and training. She was recently the lead consultant conducting a s166 review on corporate  governance for a Tier 1 Insurer (FTSE100).

Nindy spent six years at the FCA in both Policy and Supervision roles where she made a significant  contribution to a number of regulatory change projects including SM&CR and IDD. Before joining the  regulator Nindy held managerial roles in compliance and claims for a general insurer.

Bio to come shortly.  In the meantime, please see the speaker's LinkedIn profile here.

Joel is Head of Sales and Marketing for AXA’s Schemes and Delegated Authority business. This involves managing scheme relationships, and new deals implementation. Joel is passionate about enabling profitable schemes grow, pushing into niche areas and working with like-minded scheme holders.

With more than 40 years’ experience in the insurance market, Lynne has worked with a number of brokers including Sedgwick/Marsh, Aon, HSBC Insurance Brokers and Bluefin in roles from client management to profit centre management and sales. As Head of Sales for Willis Towers Watson Networks, Lynne is passionate about supporting independent brokers and helping to nurture new start-ups.

Lynne lives in Worcester where her hobbies include renovating the wreck of a Georgian coach-house she and her husband recently purchased and training their two German Shepherd dogs.

Clive has responsibility for GRP's Underwriting division. He joined GRP in April 2018 from Primary Group, where he fulfilled a variety of senior roles including non-executive chairman of Rural Insurance and executive chairman of One Commercial.

Between 2006-2016 he was CEO of Towergate Underwriting, having joined the business in 2003 as a regional managing director.

Clive began his career in 1987 as a graduate entrant with Commercial Union, where he had a number of different roles. He joined AXA UK in 1999 as national broker director and was involved in the acquisition of GRE that resulted in him becoming regional director.

Clive is a past member of the CII Underwriting Faculty and is a past winner of the Insurance Times Industry Achiever of The Year.

I am an experienced Training Specialist with a 8-year record of success in commercial insurance sector. Focused on maximising employee performance and competence, quality assurance, engagement and careers progression with effective training programs. I get excited to develop successful training plans that meet dynamic company and employee needs. Accustomed to collaborating with managers to hone in on unique requirements with the aim of growth.

I have had many roles in the insurance broking industry, including Account Management (both personal and commercial lines), team manager positions and operational positions.

Committed to learning & development and passionate to share my knowledge, experience and expertise to allow other to grow.

After achieving my Level 3 in Learning & Development, my next goal is

Michael Sicsic is a senior executive in the field of risk and regulation in the financial services sector, with a strong focus on insurance. He has a deep understanding of business models in the insurance sector and its related risks. He has founded Sicsic Advisory in 2019.

Michael is the former head of supervision of the retail general insurance sector at the Financial Conduct Authority.

Formerly, Michael spent five years at Aviva Plc. as Global Operational Risk Director covering Life Insurance, Asset Management and Non-Life insurance. Previously, he worked over 10 years at GE Capital in various senior risk and finance positions across commercial and corporate finance activities.

He has extensive international experience covering credit risk modeling and capital allocation, financial risk and ALM, operational risk management and quantification, conduct of business, financial crime compliance and M&A activity across multiple jurisdictions.

Michael is a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Insurers.

David joined BIBA’s main Board in August 2023 following his appointment as Regulation Director.  He has more than 40 years of experience in the insurance industry and since 2002 has focused on insurance broking compliance. During that time David led a group's firms through FSA authorisation, as well as providing technical compliance advice to over 150 firms, from the international to the very small, on UK regulations.

Joining BIBA in 2013, he brought a 'regulatory mindset' to his role, having spent a number of years at the Financial Services Authority.

Responsible for BIBA's policy positions and overseeing of three departments:

Public Affairs:
• Creation of award winning manifesto and promotion of it to over 20 government departments, the Prime Minister, HM Treasury and the FCA
• Appearances before parliamentary committees at the House of Lords and House of Common as well as bodies such as the IMF 
• Creation of the 'Age Agreement' with Government, which has signposted over 250,000 older travel and motor insurance customers to appropriate insurance
• Contributor to the Good Practice Guide for Vulnerable Customers
• Promotion of key Brexit issues to the Prime Minister Theresa May

Technical - managing 25 successful commercial schemes and facilities including:
• BIBA Travel Insurance Scheme which has won several categories with Which?
• The Professional Indemnity Initiative - appointing a panel of three expert brokers to meet a specified policy wording
• Working with MGA/ reinsurance broker solution to create a new commercial insurance facility to assist SMEs in flood risk areas
• Responsible for guidance documents on the Insurance Act, under-insurance and the Sharing Economy

Communications:
Appearances on all major national broadcasters (BBC, SKY, ITV, C4) and print media, as well as regular expert columns e.g. Auto Express. 
Spokesperson on all general insurance issues, including Travel, Motor, Home, Pet, Commercial and the sharing economy.

 

Chloe Woodhead Chartered MCIPD is the HR Manager at Centor Insurance and Risk Management. Her role is predominantly a generalist HR adviser however she is heavily involved in our accrediations and has helped us to achieve Investors in People Platinium, Great Places to Work, Best Workplaces for Women, Excellence in Wellbeing and BCorp.

She sits on the CSR and Mental Health committee and leads on all our Mental Health and Inclusion initiatives.

Chloe has always worked in the insurance industry. She joined Centor in 2017 and prior to that was at the Association of British Insurers as an HR Adviser for 10 years.

Chloe has two daughters and enjoys music, films and attempting to run to keep fit.