News in brief

Gongs for Stephen, Steven

The Queen’s birthday honours list has paid tribute to two leading insurance figures. Equitas chairman Hugh Stephen was knighted for services to the financial services industry, while a CBE went to Admiral chief operating officer David Graham Stevens for services to the insurance industry and charity. Stevens said that both his award and the CBE given to Admiral chief executive Henry Engelhardt two years ago were “touching personal honours”. He added: “They are mainly a result of the great success of Admiral. Both Henry and I very much appreciate the great contributions many other past and present employees at Admiral have made to that success and the extent to which they deserve their share of any accolades.”

Henderson adds to team

Leeds-based Henderson Insurance Brokers has expanded its team with 12 appointments over the past six weeks. Chief executive Joe Henderson stressed that the appointments were additional positions, not replacements. The new recruits include Brian Tourle, who joins as associate director at Henderson’s London-based surety division, specialising in the construction industry and professional indemnity insurance. He previously worked for Coface in London. Chris Thompson becomes associate director for Henderson’s corporate division at its Leeds Riverside office. He joins from Peterborough-based Weller Russell & Laws, where he had been a board director since May 2001. Giles White joins Henderson’s Newcastle office as a commercial broker, having moved from a similar post with Towergate. Meanwhile, Jamie Rhodes is one of four new appointments to the Henderson office in Tingley, south Leeds, and further appointments have been made in Kirmington, south Humberside; Stockton; and Manchester.

Heath Lambert rejig

Heath Lambert has overhauled the management of its Leeds operation with the appointment of David Fryer as head of office. Fryer will replace John Dakin, who has switched to the broker's national corporate team. Fryer joined Heath Lambert 18 months ago from Leeds-based broker Henderson. In his new role, Dakin will focus on large accounts in Yorkshire and corporate relationships in the surrounding Leeds area. Dakin said: “Having accomplished my three-year objective of significantly growing the Leeds revenue and turning the office into profit, I decided to move on from my head of office role.”