This week's moves cover the leadership of the UK's flood reinsurance scheme, a new country head for a German industrial insurer, and a consolidation of Howden's Channel Islands businesses.
Flood Re has appointed Simon Green (pictured, left) as chair, subject to regulatory approval. He succeeds Bridget Rosewell, who announced in July that she would step down.
Green is currently Flood Re’s senior independent director. He has more than 25 years’ experience across financial services, regulation and governance, including senior roles at the Financial Conduct Authority, the Financial Services Authority and the Bank of England. He also served as a non-executive director at Gallagher.
“Flood Re has achieved a great deal since its establishment, but there remains much more to do as we strengthen the nation’s resilience to flooding,” said Green.
Chief executive Perry Thomas said Green’s knowledge of Flood Re would be valuable as the scheme develops BeFloodReady, part of its wider push to help households become more resilient to flooding.
Flood Re keeps flood cover affordable for hundreds of thousands of at-risk homes, but it is due to end in 2039, and it excludes homes built after January 1, 2009. The new chair will oversee the scheme’s shift towards resilience as that deadline gets closer. That shift matters for brokers placing household cover in flood risk areas, particularly as insurers including Aviva call for resilience to be built into new homes.
HDI Global has appointed Delphine Leroy (pictured, right) as managing director for France, effective January 1, 2027. She succeeds Jean-Marie Haquette, who is retiring after nearly four decades in insurance and reinsurance and has led HDI Global France since September 2022.
Leroy has nearly 30 years’ experience and was most recently general manager for France at QBE. Before that she was managing director for France and head of South Europe at CNA Hardy.
David Hullin, member of HDI Global’s executive board, said Leroy’s market expertise and broker focus made her well placed to lead the French business.
France is a key hub in HDI’s multinational network. For London brokers placing multinational programmes with French elements, the appointment brings a leader with strong local broker relationships. The handover period up to January is designed to maintain continuity.
Howden has opened a shared office at Harbour House in St Peter Port, Guernsey. It brings together mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, which joined Howden in 2022, and Howden Channel Islands Insurance Brokers.
SPF, Guernsey’s longest-running mortgage broker, has moved from Berthelot Street after almost 30 years. It says it has handled more than £2 billion of mortgage transactions over that time.
“Guernsey is a relationship-driven market, and local knowledge matters,” said Henry Mowbray, managing director and head of Channel Islands broking at Howden.
Howden’s Channel Islands businesses also include Guernsey-based captive specialist Howden Captive Services. Together they cover mortgages, life and inheritance tax planning, private and commercial insurance, financial services risks and captives.
The move reflects a wider push by large brokers to combine insurance, mortgage and wealth advice in one place. Bringing those services under one roof allows cross-selling across a client base of individuals, fiduciaries and professional firms. Local independent brokers in the Channel Islands face a better-resourced competitor offering a broader range.
