Independent re/insurance broker BMS has appointed five executives to its newly created accident and health (A&H) division.
The London-based team will provide A&H solutions without territorial or client restrictions, complementing existing BMS accident and health relationships.
The move comes as medical inflation for employer-sponsored plans is projected at nearly 8%, with consulting firms forecasting a 6-7% increase in average employer health costs in 2026, driven by specialty drugs and higher utilization.
James Early joined BMS as managing director on Feb. 9. He previously spent 18 years at Miller Insurance Services LLP, where he built and led a team focused on international accident and health and cross-class relationships.
Early will oversee the build-out and execution of the division's long-term strategy. "BMS has already built some outstanding relationships in this space, and we are excited to contribute to the group's continued growth," he said, noting the team brings experience across complex single-risk placements through to management and support of large binding authorities.
Andrew Furr joined as director on Jan. 2 from Burns & Wilcox Global Solutions, where he served as executive director of international specialty. In his new role, he will develop insurance solutions for specialist industries and complex environments.
Kevin White and Alexander Cassey joined as divisional directors. White joined on Sept. 4, 2025, from Specialist Risk International, bringing more than 20 years of experience in product development. Cassey joined on Jan. 2 with 15 years of internationally focused experience delivering bespoke insurance solutions.
Both executives will focus on structuring programs suited to emerging risks – a timely capability as research from Toward Healthcare shows younger demographics increasingly demand tailored options including critical illness, accident coverage and expanded voluntary benefits menus.
Paige Alston joined BMS on Nov. 13, 2025, as a broker, bringing seven years of industry experience from Miller Insurance Services across accident and health and delegated authority teams.
This latest development positions the broker to capture growth in a market projected to expand from $1.2 trillion in premium sales in 2023 to $1.5 trillion in 2026.
The division's launch also addresses multiple market shifts. Employers are embracing self-funded and level-funded models while seeking narrower networks and site-of-care optimization to curb expenses, market analysis indicates.
Meanwhile, telehealth has become ubiquitous, augmented by AI triage and remote monitoring technologies transforming how A&H products are delivered.
Stricter regulations on price transparency and data privacy are creating complexity for insurers navigating multiple jurisdictions, Technavio research highlights, making experienced intermediaries increasingly valuable.
Ian Gormley, UK chief executive officer, said the appointments will help execute the firm's growth strategy.
"We are pleased to welcome these talented individuals to BMS," Gormley said, noting that the accident and health division will be key in maintaining momentum into 2026 following strong growth last year.
