Alesco Delegated Authority, the specialist binding authority broker, has launched a dedicated Canadian delegated authorities unit with a triple hire of market specialists as part of its ambitious international growth strategy.
Based in London, Executive Directors Tom Bassett and Alan Daly are joined by Will Howard-Smith as Associate Director to drive the expansion of Alesco DA’s Canadian business, where there is significant opportunity for growth.
Together they bring more than 40 years’ insurance broking experience, with specialist expertise in placing and negotiating North American binding authorities in the London market, and Canadian delegated authorities in particular.
The trio will be joining Ashley Perkins’ International team, which forms part of the 60-strong London-based Alesco DA business, which is led by Managing Director Donald Alcorn and has a portfolio of over 300 delegated authority facilities for more than 150 agents. Alesco DA is now part of Gallagher Re’s Global Programmes practice group, led by Andrew Moss, which manages gross written premiums of approximately US $6billion.
Their specialism will see the new hires work closely with Gallagher Re’s Canadian operations, led by CEO Geoff Lubert, adding to its strong footprint in the region, where a multi-disciplinary team has been built to support and service national clients since its launch in 2014. Rapid growth since has seen Gallagher Re become a top three reinsurance broker in the country.
Tom brings more than 15 years’ broking experience, having specialised in the negotiating and placing of North American binding authorities, after beginning his career initially on the underwriting side, in NA casualty reinsurance. Before joining Alesco DA, Tom was a divisional director at Bishopsgate Insurance Brokers, having previously been a producing broker for Ed and Endeavour.
Alan also has 15 years’ insurance broking experience, with specific expertise in American and Canadian delegated underwriting authority for property, terrorism, auto and casualty insurance. He began his career at Endeavour before moving to Aon, and Bishopsgate thereafter, where he was most recently a divisional director.
Completing the new team, Will is an experienced account manager who began his insurance career at Willis Towers Watson before moving to Ed where he specialised in North American property, and latterly worked at Bishopsgate.
Commenting on the new hires, Donald Alcorn, said: “North America continues to be a key focus for growth at Alesco DA and Canada has long been a target for specific expansion, with many quality coverholders and MGAs having their binding authorities negotiated and placed here in the London market. We wanted to create a top quality team to lead that expansion – and that is what we have done by hiring Tom, Alan and Will. They are highly respected in the world of Canadian delegated authorities and a brilliant fit for the business and our ever-expanding team.
“Our business has been built not only on our team’s skills in bringing parties together and placing capacity contracts, but proactively managing, analysing and optimising them. That takes talent. So as we look to further develop our delegated authority offering and strategically grow into new areas, we will continue to invest in the best in the business to help us expand our client capabilities and deliver on our ambitious plan.”
Andrew Moss, Global Head of Programmes at Gallagher Re, added: “What we’re creating within the global practice is a one-stop shop for all forms of capacity and capital around the MGA. We’re bringing together people and resources from around the world that can cater for the full spectrum of MGA needs, so it made perfect sense to bring Donald and his fast-growing team of specialist binding authority brokers at Alesco DA within the practice. This investment into expanding our Canadian business with delegated authorities placed in the London market is the latest example of Alesco DA’s ambitious growth, within the wider practice.”
