Market: Australia
Company: Arthur J Gallagher & Co (AJG)
Job title: Chief executive, Gallagher Australia
Sarah Lyons’ career in insurance has encompassed more than two decades, beginning in the UK, and she has accumulated experience in a variety of roles. She joined Gallagher in 2014 as COO when OAMPS Insurance Brokers (where she was head of commercial broking) was acquired by the international firm. Immediately before assuming her current role, Lyons was Gallagher’s managing director of commercial broking. Lyons is the only female CEO of a major international broker in Australia and is responsible for a national team of 900 staff and a business placing almost $1bn in GWP. In an interview with Insurance & Risk, Lyons spoke about her career choice saying, “Like many people I fell into insurance. It wasn’t necessarily the route I’d originally seen for myself but my father worked in insurance and he gave me an honest appraisal of the opportunity, so I’m a second generation insurance person. Many people think of insurance as being rather dull and generally behind the times. In reality, it is innovative and dynamic, and you get to experience things outside of your core role remit.” Lyons featured on the 2018 Insurance Business Hot List.
