Seventeen Group has created two senior leadership roles, hiring from Gallagher and Howden as the broking group prepares for further acquisitions.
Stephen Smith (pictured) has been appointed chief broking officer, overseeing broking and placement strategy across the group, including retail broker James Hallam and managing general agent (MGA) Touchstone Underwriting. Matthew Crisp has been named group chief operating officer, leading operations as well as the group’s integration and change management teams.
Both will report to group chief executive Oliver Thorne.
Smith joins from Gallagher, where he was managing director of broking and placement for its retail division across the UK and Ireland. Seventeen said he would be responsible for delivering a consistent placement strategy across the group, and for strengthening relationships with insurer partners.
“I am delighted to be joining Seventeen Group at such an exciting time and to be teaming up with Ollie again,” said Smith.
Crisp joins from Howden. He initially joined as integration director, tasked with bringing together its new UK and Ireland retail business, before becoming chief operating officer. At Seventeen, he will focus on the group’s organisational, technical and operational foundations, and on its integration programme.
Thorne said the appointments reflected a growth philosophy that prioritises quality ahead of scale, and showed the group’s ability to attract talent.
The hires are designed to support an acquisition strategy that has picked up pace this year. Seventeen Group bought Citrus Healthcare and Smith England Insurance Brokers into James Hallam in March, adding £12 million in gross written premium (GWP), as Insurance Business reported at the time. It added Shrewsbury-based 1st Choice Insurance in April, bringing a further £13 million.
In July, it moved beyond the UK for the first time, buying Gibraltar broker Senate Insurance Brokers. The deal pace followed private equity firm IK Partners agreeing to take a minority stake in the group in March 2025.
Seventeen said it would continue to pursue an ambitious growth strategy, including further M&A.
The two roles address the main pressure points for a buy-and-build broker. A chief broking officer can consolidate placement across acquired businesses, which often bring their own insurer relationships and agency agreements. Done well, that gives the group stronger negotiating power with insurers and more consistent outcomes for clients.
A chief operating officer with an integration background targets the other common weak spot. Brokers bought by consolidators often keep separate systems and processes for years, which limits the benefits of scale. Crisp’s experience integrating Howden’s UK and Ireland retail business is directly relevant.
For independent broker owners weighing a sale, the appointments signal that Seventeen intends to stay an active buyer at a time when many larger consolidators have slowed their UK buying. It also suggests acquired firms can expect a more structured integration process than in the past.
For insurers and brokers who trade with James Hallam and Touchstone, a group-wide placement strategy is likely to mean fewer, deeper insurer relationships. Carriers outside the group’s preferred panel may see less business, while those on it may find a larger, more consistent flow.
