Lynette McKeown joins as Business Development Director. With over 15 years’ experience in various industries, including financial services and general insurance, Lynette is responsible for overseeing sales and operations for the Belfast office.
Andrew Coates has been appointed Development Executive and will work with Lynette and the wider team to develop new business opportunities. Andrew has over 20 years’ previous experience in the insurance industry.
Gallagher’s Belfast office, based on Alfred Street, employs over 60 risk management and insurance specialists, looking after a broad range of businesses across Northern Ireland, with specialisms including the social housing, construction, not-for-profit, financial and professional services and property sectors.
The office forms part of Gallagher’s 70-strong retail branch network based across the UK.
Commenting on her appointment, Lynette McKeown said: “2020 has been a year of unforeseen challenges for many businesses, forcing them to rethink how they operate – with lockdown and the challenges of remote working altering the risk management landscape, with issues such as cyber security and financial crime becoming key areas of focus. Now more than ever, clients need a specialist broker who fundamentally understands their business, to help them navigate the changing risks facing them as a result of the pandemic. My focus is to continue to build on the positive growth Gallagher has achieved in Northern Ireland in recent years, including reviewing our current client offering and developing new business opportunities.”
Andrew Coates added: “Northern Ireland offers a thriving and diverse business community, with a particularly strong representation in the property and construction sectors – two of Gallagher’s key areas of specialism in Belfast. I’m delighted to be joining an insurance broker which has such a well-established presence in the city, and look forward to identifying new sales leads, while maintaining fruitful relationships with existing clients to further grow Gallagher’s presence in Northern Ireland.”
Shane Matthews, Northern Ireland Managing Director for Gallagher, said: “Over the past six months, despite the challenge of remote working, the Belfast team have gone above and beyond to support our clients through these unprecedented times – from helping them to understand, identify and manage any changes to their risk exposure as a result of lockdown, and arranging bespoke insurance solutions to reduce the effect these risks could have on their business performance, to reviewing and validating their COVID- 19 risk assessments before reopening their premises.
“As we continue to help clients navigate the ‘new normal’, we’re pleased to be bolstering our Belfast operation – adding further talent to our first-rate team. Bringing our two new colleagues on board, with their impressive track records, reflects our ongoing commitment to investing in our people to support our expanding client base in Northern Ireland.”
