Several insurance sector organisations have announced strategic moves today.
Gallagher has appointed Henk Bijl (pictured above, left) as a senior broker to support the launch of a new transactional risks practice in Europe. Based in Amsterdam, Bijl joins Gallagher from Aon, where he worked for 25 years in the M&A and transaction solutions practice.
Most recently, he was managing director for the Benelux region, a position he held for 11 years, following earlier consulting work across the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Central and Eastern Europe.
Throughout his career, Bijl has worked with clients undertaking multimillion-euro mergers and acquisitions, advising on how to manage risk and optimise coverage within complex transaction environments. He reports to Nepomuk Loesti, chief commercial officer for the region.
The new practice will combine Bijl’s expertise with Gallagher’s existing specialisms in tax, led by Joyce Koch, and cyber, led by Aldo Borsani. It will offer products including warranty and indemnity insurance, tax liability insurance and contingent liability insurance.
The firm cited growing demand for these products among European corporates seeking to manage transaction-related risks in the context of ongoing economic uncertainty.
In May, the global brokerage also named Steve Parker as managing director of Vasek Insurance, its UK property-focused managing general agent (MGA).
Ecclesiastical Insurance has appointed Anna Stratton (pictured above, right) as its new UKGI finance director, with a start date in July 2025.
Stratton previously held senior finance roles at Allianz Partners, including UK and Ireland finance director and global head of accounting and reporting. She began her career at PwC and has since built experience in financial strategy and governance.
In her new role, Stratton will report to Mark Bennett, group CFO, and join the UK leadership team led by Richard Coleman. Ecclesiastical, part of the Benefact Group, has indicated that the hire comes at a time when the business is aiming to double its size to support increased charitable contributions.
In April, the non-profit specialist also expanded its operations in Scotland following a rise in new business activity in the region.
AEGIS London has expanded its international casualty underwriting team with the appointment of Sarah Yuile as underwriter.
Yuile joins from QBE, where she most recently served as portfolio manager for its London Market European business. Prior to that, she held roles focused on Canada and the Middle East, based first in Toronto and later in London.
Yuile will focus on developing AEGIS London’s International Casualty portfolio in core markets including Canada, Australia and Europe. Her experience in structuring multi-jurisdictional liability solutions is expected to support the syndicate’s growth strategy in those territories.
Law firm Clyde & Co has appointed Barbara Goddard as a partner in its London office. Goddard specialises in disease and workplace stress claims and joins from DAC Beachcroft, where she led the firm’s London disease team.
Goddard has more than 25 years of experience handling complex, high-value employers’ liability, public liability and product liability cases. Her areas of focus include stress, asbestos and poisoning claims, as well as emerging issues such as occupational cancer and COVID-19-related matters.
She joins Clyde & Co’s occupational disease and legacy claims team, which acts for 13 of the top 15 UK insurers and a range of clients across the public and private sectors.
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