Former Willis director owns Chesham Insurance Brokers
Willis is in advanced discussions to sell its SME brokerage in Leicester to Chesham Insurance Brokers owner Tom Bartleet, Insurance Times understands.
A Willis spokeswoman said it was in negotiations to sell part of its direct commercial business in England to an existing member of the Willis Commercial Network.
The spokeswoman said the sale was part of a strategic review of Willis’s UK operations with SME commercial customers. “We have concluded that the right strategy in England is to focus our efforts on a strengthened partnership with the brokers in Willis Networks,” she said.
“The proposed portfolio sale would involve the transfer of staff connected with the portfolio to the purchaser, who would also assume responsibility for our current premises at Leicester. Consultation with the affected staff members is underway and we are committed to working with the purchaser to ensure that the impact on clients during this process is minimal.”
Bartleet bought Chesham in May. At the time, Bartleet said he wanted to develop a market leading specialist insurance broker organically and through acquisitions. Chesham joined Willis’ commercial network in September.
Bartleet was previously a director at Willis, and chief executive officer of its global small commercial business division.
Chesham Insurance Brokers declined to comment and Tom Bartleet was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.
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