Ex-Towergate agriculture specialist joins challenger brand

James Leathley has left Rural Insurance Group to join iFarm Underwriting, touted as the up and coming brand in agricultural insurance.

Leathley was today unveiled as underwriting director for Ireland and will start with iFarm in January next year.

iFarm’s latest recruit has 13 years experience in the farming sector, including a stint at Towergate-owned BIB Underwriters. 

iFarm Underwriting is the specialist agricultural MGA and part of Imperium Insurance Management. 

iFarm managing director Alun Roberts said: “James’ résumé speaks for itself. More importantly (to us) is that his underwriting ethos and market foresight dovetails our own strategy.

“Our bleeding edge platform delivers the products and efficiencies our brokers expect, now encompassed by a highly skilled team that takes a traditional relationship orientated approach.”

iFarm growing fast

Leathley said: “In a very short time, iFarm Underwriting has become a recognised name in a well-established sector.

“Whilst competitors’ product suites remain static or are even diluting, iFarm’s speed to market and expansion into emerging territories made it an opportunity that I simply couldn’t pass up.”

Imperium Insurnace chief executive David Bearman said: “The appointment of James to iFarm is a clear demonstration of our commitment to expand our footprint in the agricultural sector.

“James’s wealth of experience will assist iFarm in further enhancing is proposition to our specialist broker panel in Ireland and iFarm have a number of exciting product launches coming in conjunction with James’s appointment”.

Imperium Insurance Management are part of the Direct Insurance Group stable, a Lloyd’s broker specialising in schemes and affinity business.

Direct Insurance Group is gaining a reputation for moving quickly in the digital age, releasing easy-accessible and clearly worded policies on its online systems.

In October, the broker released terrorist cover online, with good commision levels, for brokers to access via its onilne facility. 

Rural owner seeks buyers 

Meanwhile, Primary Group, which is the owner of Rural Insurance, is understood to be looking to sell its assets. 

Primary Group is understood to be looking for buyers for Rural sister companies One Commercial, an MGA which offers SME products to brokers and UK General, a specialist in setting up personal lines schemes for brokers. 

Rural is also understood to be up for sale. 

In September, One Commercial boss Mike Keating stepped down. 

In the same month, Insurance Times reported buyers were circling its insurance broker, Lorica.