Seasoned brokers Mark Ritson and Peter Draper have moved from United Insurance Brokers Limited (UIB) to AFL Insurance Brokers Ltd.
With combined experience in excess of five decades, the two join AFL as international property and energy directors. At UIB Draper served as property head while Ritson was executive director of the non-marine division.
“Mark and Peter represent exactly the kind of expertise we are building AFL’s business around, particularly in a continually challenging market,” said AFL chairman Toby Esser, who cited growing demand for independent brokers in the global property and energy insurance classes.
“Clients need expert knowledge and insight in dealing with underwriters in order to benefit from the bespoke property and energy coverage that our market can offer – and this expertise and agility is held more than ever with independent brokers like us.”
Ritson, meanwhile, sees the Lloyd’s of London broker as an ambitious, forward-thinking, and creative bunch.
The new director stated: “I was hugely impressed by their values, the ethos of truly looking after the client and building that personal relationship, the aggressive plans to grow, and the idea of doing this while still trying to have some fun.
“When I first started working at Sedgwick Energy 27 years ago it was also a good place to be and too many offices have now lost that. I look forward to working with the talented team AFL is assembling in London, with the many partners being developed overseas, and to contributing to the many successes the company will enjoy in the journey ahead.”
Commenting on the appointments, AFL UK chief executive Jonathan Bines described the key hires as high-calibre individuals who have carved out impressive careers.
“I am delighted that Mark and Peter, senior brokers with a wealth of experience, have joined AFL to lead our international property and energy efforts,” said Bines, adding that it is exciting to be able to add such significant resource to AFL’s growing business.
