Three UK insurance organisations have announced senior appointments this week spanning commercial broking, Lloyd's specialty markets and appointed representative network operations.
Commercial insurance broker Konsileo has appointed Helen Broadbent (pictured, left) as head of insurer strategy. Broadbent will lead the £85 million GWP broker's insurer placement framework, with a focus on strengthening collaborative partnerships across clients, brokers and insurers.
"Too often, centralised approaches can undermine trust and morale in broking teams. Konsileo's model gives brokers the freedom to act in their clients' best interests while building strong relationships with specialist markets," said Broadbent.
Lloyd's specialist broker MNK International has appointed Robert Cooper (pictured, right) as managing director - aquaculture, livestock and bloodstock, as part of a strategic expansion into global agricultural and specialty lines. Based in MNK International's London office, Cooper will build a diversified global portfolio spanning aquaculture, livestock and bloodstock, with a broader remit to expand into adjacent niche classes.
Cooper brings more than a decade's experience across global markets, including roles at Lycetts, and joins from Price Forbes where he spent almost five years as divisional director building a substantial book across livestock, bloodstock and aquaculture.
"The business combines deep market expertise with a sophisticated integrated platform that is particularly well suited to supporting complex specialist risks where capacity can be challenging. I'm excited to build a global proposition that brings together top-tier talent, technical expertise, and aligned underwriting support," said Cooper.
Gauntlet, the appointed representative network that sits within the Brokerbility group, has appointed Michelle South as managing director, effective September 1, 2026. The appointment marks a significant leadership transition - founder Roger Gaunt moves into the role of executive director, stepping back from day-to-day management to focus on strategic growth, network expansion and market relationships while supporting South through her transition.
South joins from Brokerbility, where she currently serves as market management director, bringing more than 20 years of experience spanning broker distribution, underwriting, operations and market management. Prior to Brokerbility, she held senior roles within Aviva's broker division and spent four years at Willis as development director, working closely with the Willis Networks team supporting brokers including Gauntlet.
"Gauntlet has built a strong reputation for supporting ambitious independent brokers, and I am looking forward to working closely with our AR partners, insurer partners and the talented team across the business," said South.
