Gallagher appoints new UK specialty chief executive as Turner departs

Gallagher has appointed Sarah Lyons as the new chief executive at its London-based specialty division.

Lyons, currently the chief executive at the broker’s Australia and Asia business, succeeds Jonathan Turner, who is leaving the business.

Lyons first joined Gallagher through the acquisition of OAMPS in 2014 and has held multiple senior leadership roles within the company’s Australian operation, including chief operating officer and chief executive.

She added Asia to her responsibilities in 2023 as part of Gallagher’s expansion within the Asia-Pacific region.

Lyons will take up her new responsibilities in the UK from 1 July 2025 and report to Michael Rea, chief executive of Gallagher’s UK broking operations.

Lyons said: “It’s been incredible to see the evolution and growth of Gallagher’s UK broking operations over the past 10 years.

“The UK’s specialty business has been at the forefront of that growth and has built up a reputation, right across the globe, as the go-to specialty broker within the London market. The team has ambitious plans for 2025 and beyond and I look forward to working with the divisional leadership of each specialist team and the wider talent within the overall specialty business to achieve those goals.”

Rea added: “She has an incredible reputation with colleagues, insurance carriers and clients alike and her deep understanding of general insurance and Gallagher’s global business make her perfectly placed to lead our 1100-strong London-based specialty team through its next phase of growth.”

Turner

Turner, meanwhile, leaves Gallagher after 10 years with the business.

He joined the broker’s MGA Pen Underwriting as executive chairman in 2015. In 2017, he took on the role of chief executive at the subsidiary. 

In 2020, Turner took on his most recent position as chief executive of Gallagher’s specialty arm.

His next career move has not yet been confirmed.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to Turner for his leadership of our specialty business over the past five years and for all of his contributions to the overall UK business since he joined as executive chairman of our Pen Underwriting business in 2015,” Rea said.