BGC Partners launches holding company for its insurance interests
The new name will act as the investment vehicle for new acquisitions
Headquarters Address |
8-11 Crescent, London EC3N 2LY, UK |
Revenue |
£45 million (according to 2016 annual report) |
Size (employees) |
200+ |
Global Locations |
UK, Brazil, Istanbul |
Underwriting Expertise |
Aviation, casualty, property, marine, reinsurance, and professional & financial risks |
Key People |
CEO of Besso Group and Besso Limited & Managing Director of Casualty Division: Robert Dowman CEO of Besso Group and Besso Limited & Managing Director of Property Division: Russ Nichols |
About Besso
Besso is a Lloyd’s broker that provides a range of services catering for major industries and business sectors as well as niche markets. It is composed of divisions with teams that handle a wide variety of complex risks by providing detailed sector knowledge and niche expertise:
Besso strives to offer consistent and reliable face-to-face broking skills combined with an innovative and creative approach.
History of Besso
Besso is an established international broker whose roots can be traced back to the Besso family, a well-known name in Italian insurance. It offers specialist access to Lloyd’s and all major insurance markets and embraces wholesale, reinsurance, and retail products. The company mainly operated in North America in the early years until it decided to include treaty and facultative insurance across a wide variety of business lines worldwide.
In 2017, American global financial services company BGC Partners acquired Besso for £70.5 million through a mix of cash and stock. As part of the deal, BGC executive Christopher Smith joined Besso’s board of directors to drive the company’s strategic growth plan.
Leadership at Besso
Robert Dowman – Managing Director of Casualty Division & CEO
Dowman is the CEO of both Besso Group and Besso Limited. He has been serving as the managing director of Besso Limited’s global casualty division since 2017.
Russ Nichols – Managing Director of Property Division & CEO
Nichols is the CEO of both Besso Group and Besso Limited. He joined the company in 1999 as a divisional director and joined the Besso board of directors in 2001.
Culture at Besso
Besso focuses on integrity, leadership, adaptability, strength, tradition, and innovation to improve its work ethics and corporate style.
As an international company, Besso strives to reinforce its reputation for leadership and loyalty by ensuring that each division and business line draws on the best talent available in the marketplace. The company also promotes diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace by embracing talented people irrespective of their background, race, gender, or beliefs.
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