Broker
JMG spend on deals surges to new high in year before PE investment
JMG Group spent £89.62m on buying in 2024/25, the financial year ahead of private equity firm GTCR investing alongside existing backer PE house Synova and the broker’s leadership team.
Gallagher names Belfast and Bristol office bosses
Gallagher has appointed Michael McLaverty as head of its Belfast office and expanded Mark Holmes’s role to included being managing director of the Bristol office.
SRG starts 2026 buying with Kennett
In its first deal of the year, Specialist Risk Group has agreed to buy Kennett Insurance & Risk Management, which has offices in Hull and Leeds.
People Moves: 5 – 9 January 2026
Keep up to date with the latest personnel moves in insurance.
Interview: Phil Barton and Ewan MacDonald, Partners&
Partners& leaders Phil Barton and Ewan MacDonald on phase three of the broker as it hits profitability ahead of schedule and plans to near double in the next three years.
Partners& seals first deal of 2026 with North East buy
Partners& has made its first acquisition of the year with the purchase of STP Risk Solutions, a chartered insurance broker based in Hull.
Axa Commercial CEO Walker to head retail arm on interim basis after Zweibrucker exit
Axa has confirmed that its UK commercial CEO, Jon Walker, has also taken interim control of its retail business while it finds a replacement for the former incumbent, Alain Zweibrucker.
Quietest Q4 and annual M&A totals in years, says MarshBerry
There are “arguably no immediate catalysts that will likely push deal activity up to 2023/24 levels for the foreseeable future”.
Ex-Towergate leader and former Esure CEO join Jensten board
Former Esure CEO David McMillan has joined Jensten Group as non-executive chair, teaming up again with Bain Capital.
Verlingue UK returns to buying with Cambridge firm
Verlingue has bought Cambridge-based employee benefits and financial planning specialist, EBCam.
The numbers that reveal the true extent of the 2025 broker deal slump
The number of UK broker deals halved in 2025 to the lowest level in the three years since Insurance Age started its interactive map series, with the fall coming despite the number of buyers remaining steady.
Partners& reveals first annual pre-tax and operating profits
Partners& has revealed pre-tax profit of £2.38m and operating profit of £1.82m, turning its red ink to black for the first time in its history across the two key metrics.
W Denis maintains profits as turnover dips
Leeds-headquartered broker W Denis kept pre-tax profits at £1.55m in the year ended 30 June 2025 despite turnover slipping 13.1%.
Jensten reveals deals bill in run-up to Bain takeover
Jensten picked up a bill of £75.73m for four acquisitions in its final full year under Livingbridge’s ownership.
TBIG closed 2025 with seventh deal
The Broker Investment Group completed its seventh deal of 2025 at the end of December backing The Needham Group to buy Black Lion Broking Services.
End of Year Review 2025: Zurich Insurance’s Nikki Lidster
Nikki Lidster, head of SME at Zurich Insurance, reminisces about connecting with broker partners at the Biba Conference and promises if they want to get in touch with the business, they will get through to a skilled Zurich employee – never a bot.
End of Year Review 2025: Allianz UK’s Nick Hobbs
Nick Hobbs, chief distribution officer at Allianz UK, prays for a more balanced approach to regulation that enables and encourages great conduct and customer outcomes; congratulates Ken Norgrove for the Intact rebrand; and looks to a feathered friend for…
End of Year Review 2025: Markel UK’s Joanne Skyes
Joanne Sykes, divisional director - broker at Markel UK, predicts an escalation in demand for cyber risk and ransomware cover, whilst singing the praises of Biba CEO Trudgill and ‘Yellow’ with Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
Travel insurance broker goes into liquidation
Michael Pettifer Insurance Brokers, trading as MPI Brokers, went into creditors’ voluntary liquidation on 21 November, the Financial Conduct Authority has confirmed.
End of Year Review 2025: Crawford & Co’s Glenn Thornton
Glenn Thornton, head of major and complex loss at Crawford & Company, says farewell to two insurance icons in ‘Royal’ and ‘Sun Alliance’; hails the youngest deputy president CILA has ever had in Marsh’s Melissa Cunningham; and predicts AI driven dynamic…
Caravan Guard profits soar as turnover up double digits
Caravan Guard grew profit by over 40% in the year ended 31 March 2025 as turnover rose 21%.