A series of senior moves across broking, premium finance, insurance and legal services have been announced, as firms look to strengthen leadership teams, deepen broker relationships and expand specialist capabilities in key regional and international markets.
Gallagher has appointed Ana Matarranz (pictured, left) as chief executive officer for Spain.
In her new role, Matarranz will lead Gallagher’s growth strategy in Spain, combining organic revenue development with the integration of specialist teams and capabilities, further strengthening the company’s value proposition for clients in the market.
“Gallagher is widely recognised for always putting clients first, a culture of integrity, and a growth ambition that makes it a truly differentiated player," said Matarranz. "I’m delighted to join the business at such a pivotal time for the Spanish broking market, which presents a significant opportunity, both for clients and talent. I look forward to expanding our presence and building a high‑performing business that combines strong local expertise with Gallagher’s global capabilities and creating a trusted partner for clients for the long term.”
Premium Credit has retained Paul Trail (pictured, centre) as ambassador to support its premium finance growth strategy and strengthen relationships across the insurance market, particularly among the personal lines broker community.
Trail has held senior leadership positions at PremFina and Close Brothers Premium Finance. Most recently, he was chief revenue officer at PremFina with responsibility for growth, sales and external relationships, prior to which he was managing director at Close Brothers Premium Finance.
“It was an easy decision to join PCL, having witnessed the growth of both the business and its reputation in the market over the years. It has established itself firmly as an industry leader, evidenced through its track record of strong financial performance and long-lasting relationships with the broker community," said Trail. "I look forward to working with them as they continue to further scale the business.”
Zurich UK has appointed Andy King (pictured, right) as head of regional market for the North, strengthening its regional leadership team as it continues to invest in growth, service and long-term broker partnerships.
King will lead the northern region with a broker‑led, tailored engagement strategy. He brings almost 16 years’ experience at Zurich, having held senior roles across strategic execution, operational delivery and broker engagement.
Commenting on his appointment, King said: “Zurich’s focus on investing in people and maintaining five-star service made the role a really exciting opportunity for me. Keeping underwriting decisions in the regions gives our teams the confidence and authority to spend more time supporting brokers, focusing on strong underwriting relationships rather than transactional engagement.”
International law firm DAC Beachcroft (DACB) has hired lawyers’ liability specialist Will Sefton as a partner in Bristol.
Previously a partner at RPC, he joins DACB together with legal director Anna Murley and associate Richard Seymour.
Sefton brings over 20 years’ experience acting on solicitors’ negligence, regulatory issues and complex professional indemnity matters. A founding partner of RPC’s Bristol office, Sefton was head of RPC’s Lawyers Liability and Regulatory Group, which he helped build. Prior to joining RPC, he worked at Clifford Chance and CMS.
“DACB offers a strong platform with a genuinely global insurance presence that aligns with the direction of my practice. I've known a number of people at DACB for many years and have always admired the firm's leadership, its thoughtful expansion across regional and international offices and, importantly, its people-focused culture," said Sefton. “I'm looking forward to seizing the opportunities that platform will provide to grow my practice, and I'm very much looking forward to working with the team and contributing to the continued success of the firm.”
Arch Insurance UK regional division has appointed Dean King (pictured immediately above) as Kings Hill branch manager, effective immediately.
In his new role, King will oversee the branch’s day‑to‑day operations, manage broker distribution and drive the delivery of Arch’s growth strategy across the Kent and Surrey region.
King brings nearly 20 years’ experience in the insurance market. He joined Arch in 2023 as a broker relationship development manager and has previously held business development and underwriting roles at Jensten Group, Unicorn Underwriting Limited and LV=.
The move forms part of Arch’s wider push to deepen regional broker relationships and sharpen local decision‑making in its UK regional division.
Ascend Insurance Holdings (AIH) has appointed Roger Brown as group head of mergers & acquisitions.
Brown will lead AIH’s M&A programme as the group continues to build a national platform centred on high‑quality, independent commercial lines brokers. He will be responsible for originating, structuring and executing deals, and for working with partner businesses post‑transaction to support long‑term growth while preserving their culture, independence and client focus.
“I’m delighted to be joining Ascend Insurance Holdings to lead their M&A programme as they build a group centred around high-quality, independent commercial lines brokers,” Brown said. “This segment of the market represents some of the very best broking in the UK - businesses built on genuine client relationships, deep local knowledge and a relentless focus on customer outcomes."
