Powerlist Page2
The POST Power List 2014
Over the past 12 months the UK insurance industry has faced thematic reviews by the dozen, missed opportunities in the motor sector when the Competition
and Markets Authority dropped the ball with its two-year report and faced a work-in-progress for the flood problems. Next year it will see a general election that will shape the regulatory landscape for the next five years, the last year of Solvency II preparation and the start of road trials for autonomous cars. So which major players made an impact in 2014 and who will shape the industry next year? Post put its thinking cap on - with a bottle or two of wine - and decided who
the movers and shakers will be in 2015.
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Thierry Derez
Chairman and CEO, Covéa Group
Covéa’s holding company continues to create news - whether that is Swinton being fined £7.38m for mis-selling, Christophe Bardet departing the UK, or the news that Covéa has bought Sterling to achieve its commercial ambitions. Derez is likely to be a busy man in 2015.
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Brendan McCafferty
CEO, Flood Re
With its ‘go-live’ date set for 2015, McCafferty is going to have his work cut out as the market watches and waits.
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Matthew Donaldson
CEO, BGL
As well as being responsible for inflicting meerkat Aleksandr Orlov on the world, Donaldson has his fingers in many pies and many countries. He has big plans for “the long game”.
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Steve White
CEO, British Insurance Brokers’ Association
Post’s own recent research The State of the Broker Nation showed that White is having an impact and has gained the market’s respect.
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Carl Shuker
CEO, A Plan
Despite shying away from the limelight, there is no doubt A Plan is a broker to watch. 2015 could be a big year after private equity backer Equistone agreed to sell its majority stake in the UK broker to Hg Capital, and Shuker said he will continue to expand the firm's national footprint.
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Kevin Spencer
Group CEO, Markerstudy
The original Gibraltar-based insurer always makes a stir at the British Insurance Brokers’ Association conference and challenges the market to think about unrated carriers, but it continues to show its teeth in the UK motor market headed up by Spencer.
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Andrew Scott
Chairman, Aston Scott
With Oval and Giles snapped up by Arthur J Gallagher this year, new mid-sized independent brokers will find there is room to grow and Scott is sure to be doing some deals in 2015.
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Richard Pryce
CEO, QBE Europe
With a recent restructure of its UK and Ireland business into three segments – corporate and large commercial, middle market and SME – Pryce looks to be setting out his stall for the group.
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Paul Geddes
CEO, Direct Line
Despite predictions Geddes would leave the insurer once it had bedded in its initial public offering, he remains in the hot seat. NIG will always have people interested in buying it so maybe 2015 will be the year it leaves the stable.
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Caroline Wayman
Chief executive and chief ombudsman, Financial Ombudsman Service
Appointed in July 2014 as CEO and chief ombudsman, Wayman, a non-practising barrister, may shape the future of the customers’ recourse for complaints with insurers.
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Bronek Masojada
CEO, Hiscox Group
A familiar voice in the market, Masojada leads his firm from the front and has seen its profile steadily rise. He has made his customers’ issues with Flood Re known and is sure to continue to fight their battle in 2015.
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David Howden
Group CEO, Hyperion Group
Hyperion made a statement this year with its swoop on RK Harrison but where will Howden take it next? Is an initial public offering on the horizon?
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Dominic Christian
Executive chairman, Aon Benfield and CEO, Aon UK
Christian told Post earlier in the year he was ready to rumble and confident his firm is capable of delivering a knockout blow to market rivals in a bid to build on its strong position in the UK. How will Aon counter Arthur J Gallagher’s market grab?
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Nigel Farage
Leader, UKIP
The 2015 election is shaping up to be interesting, especially the role that UKIP might play in being a power broker. He already has broker Arron Banks on his side, and questions abound about what the party could mean for the UK insurance industry in terms of its outlook on business and Europe.
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Andy Watson
CEO, Ageas UK
After the Barry Smith mass acquisition years, things have quietened down, although the firm has dipped its toes into the alternative business structures market. Question marks remain over add-on sales in certain parts of the business but, with Tesco Underwriting extending its partnership, Watson has all to play for.