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Cooper Gay and Swett & Crawford confirm deal to create broking giant

Toby Esser group chief executive officer Coopergay

Cooper Gay, the London-based independent wholesale, reinsurance and specialist retail insurance broker, and US wholesale broker Swett & Crawford have confirmed they are in advanced deal discussions.

In a statement, the companies said the combined business would become "the world’s largest independent global wholesale and reinsurance broker".

The two businesses will come together under a new group holding company, which will retain a high proportion of ownership by the working employees.

Management of the combined group will be led by Toby Esser as group chief executive. Neal Abernathy will continue to be the chief executive of Swett & Crawford, with Cooper Gay’s North American businesses

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