The UK insurance and legal markets have seen a flurry of senior moves across loss adjusting, legal expenses, intermediary distribution and professional risk, as firms continue to invest in technical expertise, regional reach and broker-facing capabilities.
Allianz UK has also appointed Scott McLoughlin as head of intermediary.
McLoughlin has more than 20 years’ experience in the insurance industry. He was most recently national sales manager at LV= General Insurance and has also held roles at Legal & General and HomeServe.
McLoughlin will report to partnerships director Sarah Watts and take responsibility for developing business with mortgage intermediaries, brokers and financial advisers.
Watts said McLoughlin’s experience and leadership skills would support Allianz’s growth plans with mortgage brokers and financial advisers. McLoughlin said his priorities include strengthening partnerships, focusing on customer experience and delivering value through the intermediary channel.
Allianz Legal Protection hires BDM for Midlands and North
Allianz Legal Protection has appointed Samantha Williamson (pictured, left) as business development manager for the Midlands and North, effective March 2.
Williamson joins from Allianz’s Birmingham branch, where she was underwriting team manager for property and casualty. In her new role, she will be responsible for growing the before‑the‑event legal expenses portfolio across the Midlands and North, developing new distribution partnerships and working with Allianz Commercial branches in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Glasgow.
Distribution manager Steve Rowley said Williamson brings underwriting experience and regional market knowledge that will support the expansion of Allianz Legal Protection’s distribution and broker relationships.
Williamson said she aims to use local market insight to drive growth in both commercial and personal legal expenses solutions.
International law firm DAC Beachcroft has expanded its professional risk practice in Manchester with the hire of partner Ben Parks (pictured, right) and a team of five lawyers and a paralegal from Clyde & Co.
Parks became a partner at Clyde & Co in 2022, having previously spent a decade as a partner at BLM. He is known in the professional liability market and advises on complex, high‑value and often multi‑party claims against professionals.
Suzanne Wharton, partner and head of DAC Beachcroft’s national professional risk practice, described the hire as a strategic move to consolidate the firm’s presence in the North West and further strengthen its national platform. She highlighted Parks’ client relationships and technical expertise.
Parks said he and his team were attracted by DAC Beachcroft’s client base and collaborative culture and that they aim to support further growth of the practice in Manchester and across the UK.
QuestGates has strengthened its major and complex loss capabilities with a series of senior appointments aimed at deepening technical and regional expertise.
The firm has created the new role of national technical director, appointing Colum Tudball, who brings more than 40 years’ experience in technical leadership and operational management in the loss adjusting sector.
In his new position, Tudball will work across QuestGates’ commercial loss adjusting teams to refine technical processes, act as a senior referral point on complex claims and provide guidance on achieving optimal outcomes. He is also tasked with mentoring and developing the next generation of adjusters.
His arrival is part of a broader build‑out of the major and complex loss division. Recent hires include Niall Smith as major loss director North and Russell Hulme as major loss director in the South West, as well as the appointment of Richard Keegan to the newly created role of forensic accounting services director, adding specialist accountancy capability to the unit.
Chief operating officer Colin Ganson said Tudball’s technical background and focus on mentoring would support both colleagues and clients in managing major and complex losses. Tudball said he was joining to help develop the firm’s capabilities in this area and pointed to the strength of QuestGates’ specialist adjusting team.
