Lloyd's broker adds non-executive director

Lloyd's broker Holman's has added Peter Presland to its board as a non-executive director.

Presland was most recently chairman of Link, the UK’s national ATM interchange network, for more than five years and oversaw the merger of that organisation with Voca, the provider of the UK’s BACS money processing system. He remained as chairman of the combined operation until November 2008.

He was previously spent the main part of his career with C E Heath where he became group finance director in 1985 and then group chief executive in 1990, during which time he was active in defeating a hostile takeover from PWS, rebuilding the group’s broking operations, including the development of a UK retail broking division, and leading the strategic move away from underwriting, including the flotation of the Australian operation.

He also oversaw the development of Heath’s in-house software businesses, which became Rebus Group. In 1995 he led the demerger of Rebus and became its first chief executive as a listed company. Four years later, he negotiated its sale to US private equity interests, remaining as chairman until 2001.

Andrew Holman, chief executive of Holmans said: “We are very fortunate to have Peter join us on the board. Not only for his obvious strengths as a non-executive director, but for his detailed market knowledge and experience of corporate development. We are very much looking forward to working with him as we embark on the next stage of our exciting growth plans.”

Presland added. “I am pleased to have been approached by Holman’s and to have the opportunity to become involved in the heart of the insurance market again. The firm has some great characteristics that make it well placed to grow over the next few years, both organically and by acquisition.”