H&H Group has promoted long-serving executive Kally Shane (pictured) to lead its broking arm.
Shane has been appointed head of H&H Insurance Brokers after 16 years with the firm. She takes overall responsibility and accountability for the insurance business, including day‑to‑day operations, regional teams and long‑term strategy.
"Having been part of the business for so many years, I know how important it is that our clients feel confident and supported when it comes to insurance," Shane said. “Our role is to provide trusted, expert advice and an exceptional standard of service, giving clients real peace of mind. I’m looking forward to working alongside the team as we continue to develop the business, grow together and share in its future success.”
The broker operates across the north of England and the south of Scotland, providing independent insurance advice to rural and business clients. Its head office is in Carlisle, with regional offices in Northallerton, Durham, Hexham, Wigton, Kirkby Stephen and Newtown St Boswells in the Scottish Borders.
Shane joined H&H Insurance Brokers in February 2010 as a trainee account handler and completed her industry qualifications within two years. She was promoted to account handler supervisor in 2015, became operations manager in 2018 and later operations director before stepping into the new leadership role.
Her progression reflects a broader trend among independent brokers of formalising succession and investing in internal talent pipelines, rather than relying solely on external hires for senior roles.
In 2022, Shane was selected for Aviva’s Future Leader Programme, a two‑year, practical and business‑focused course aimed at individuals from independent brokers who are seen as potential principals of the future. The programme covers areas such as people leadership, regulation and compliance, business planning, financial and strategic development, as well as marketing and sales management. The scheme is selective, with Aviva limiting each cohort to a relatively small group of delegates from regional and independent brokerages across the UK.
Richard Rankin, chief executive of H&H Group, said the promotion recognises Shane’s long‑term contribution to the business.
“Kally’s talent, dedication and commitment over the past 16 years have been exceptional, and this promotion is thoroughly deserved and the next natural step in her career," Rankin said. “She has played a key role in the development of H&H Insurance Brokers and it’s an absolute pleasure to recognise and reward this; her progression perfectly demonstrates our ongoing commitment to investing in our people and strengthening leadership across the Group as we plan for the future.”
Shane steps into the role at a time when rural and SME clients face a challenging market. Property and commercial claims costs have risen sharply in recent years, driven by higher repair bills, materials and labour. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) reported that UK insurers paid out £4.1 billion in property claims in the first three quarters of 2024 alone, around 15% higher than the same period in 2023.
Separate analysis has pointed to a 33% year‑on‑year increase in average home insurance claim costs in the third quarter of 2024, and a 34% jump in motor claims between 2019 and 2023, both outpacing general inflation and feeding through into pricing and underwriting strategies.
For rural enterprises and diversified farm businesses, underinsurance remains a persistent issue. Industry guidance has warned that sums insured and business interruption limits often fail to keep pace with rising rebuild costs, expanded activities and new on‑farm income streams, leaving clients exposed to reduced settlements when the average clause is applied.
At the same time, climate‑driven volatility is reshaping risk profiles. UK farmers are increasingly exploring tools such as parametric or index‑based covers to manage the financial impact of extreme weather, as traditional indemnity products come under pressure from more frequent and severe events.
