Ardonagh Advisory continues expansion with new acquisition

Ardonagh Advisory has acquired broker PB Curran as part of plans to strengthen its regional presence.

PB Curran, which employs just under 40 staff, specialises in commercial, landlords, farming and private clients insurance.

It operates from three locations – its headquarters are based in York, while it has two additional offices in Middlesbrough and Ossett.

Once the acquisition is complete, the firm will join Ethos Broking, which forms part of the SME broking platform that Ardonagh Advisory is comprised of.

This will be done in a bid to build its presence in Yorkshire and north east England.

Phil Bayles, chief commercial officer at Ardonagh Advisory, said: “Ardonagh Advisory is always on the look-out for great businesses that can bring something a little different or enhance our existing offer.

“PB Curran is a brilliant example of that.

“A key factor for us is around finding those businesses that share our ambitions and ways of working so that we can continue to collaborate across Ethos and the wider Ardonagh Advisory platform.

’New chapter’

PB Curran was founded by Patrick Curran in 1961 and has grown over the years through a series of strategic acquisitions.

Current director Edward Curran, who will continue to run the business day-to-day, will work Ethos Broking regional managing director Alan Sumner and Richard Tuplin, who leads Ethos Broking as part of his role as chief executive of Advisory Insurance Brokers.

Curran said: “The opportunity presented by Ethos was hugely compelling and we know that we will be able to continue to the run the business in a way that completely aligns with our values.

“During our initial discussions it soon became clear we had found the right partner – Ethos put their clients and staff at the centre of their business.

“Ethos represents a new chapter for PB Curran and we’re excited by the many possibilities available within Ethos and the wider Ardonagh Advisory platform.”

Growth

This came after Ardonagh Advisory made a double swoop to acquire a majority shareholding in Stanhope Cooper and Renovation Underwriting earlier this year (25 April 2023).

Following this, Bayles told Insurance Times that the SME broking platform was ”interested in is building capability and expertise so that we can better serve our client base”.

Following the acquisition of PB Curran, he said in a statement that the move would allow for more opportunities to grow.

He said: ”We’re looking forward to welcoming even more businesses like PB Curran into the fold, so that together we can explore even greater opportunities for growth.”