Towergate names new leadership team

Towergate executive chairman Alastair Lyons has named the leadership team to replace the broker’s central executive committee.

The team will meet monthly to agree cross-group priorities, particularly for investment, ensure it makes the most of group efficiencies, agree an internal and external communication strategy and make sure all parts of the business are aware of activity in other divisions.

The leadership team comprises Lyons, chief financial officer Scott Egan, chief operating officer Michael Rea, divisional chief executives Mike Lawton, Clive Nathan, James Tugendhat and Gary Duggan, HR director Carole Jones, chief information officer Jill Lucas, chief risk officer Keith Jackson, group transformation director Rachel Belsham and group planning officer Tim Redburn. General counsel Jennifer Owens will act as group company secretary to the team.

Commenting on Redburn’s appointment, Lyons said in an email to staff: “Tim will be new to many of you. On an interim basis he will be primarily providing support to myself and Scott as the business develops its operational and financial plans going forward and then puts these plans into effect.

“He has considerable experience in a variety of senior executive roles across a range of businesses, including within the insurance world as chairman of the Barbon Insurance Group for five years until August 2012. As such, he is in a position to input very constructively into the planning of our various businesses and will be a member of each of our new divisional steering committees.”

Lyons said Towergate would also establish a shared services steering committee in addition to the four steering committees it has already set up for broking, underwriting, direct and Paymentshield.

The steering committees will also meet monthly with executive and non-executive members and will be chaired by a non-executive director.

Lyons was appointed executive chairman on 17 October when group chief executive Mark Hodges left the company.

The search for Hodges’ permanent replacement has begun, but Lyons has warned it will take months before Towergate can name a permanent group chief executive.

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