A wave of senior appointments have been announced across the insurance and financial services industries.
Arch strengthens northern presence
Arch Insurance UK regional division has appointed Martin Cleary as Leeds branch manager, expanding its leadership team to support growth in the North-East market.
Cleary (pictured above, left) will oversee day-to-day operations and broker distribution for the Leeds office, managing a 15-person team. He reports to Janine Starkie, North and Scotland regional manager, and will focus on strengthening broker relationships and driving Arch's regional growth strategy.
Cleary brings over 30 years of experience in the UK insurance market. He joins from Bravo Network, where he was head of business development, and previously held underwriting roles at Groupama.
Starkie said Cleary’s appointment reinforces Arch’s commitment to regional expansion, noting that his “broker-focused approach and industry expertise” will be key in developing new business opportunities in the North-East.
4most names head of clients and markets
Specialist risk analytics consultancy 4most has appointed Liam McLaughlin, formerly a Partner at EY, as head of clients and markets - a newly created role aimed at supporting the firm’s international growth.
McLaughlin (pictured above, centre) will lead client engagement and oversee 4most’s market development across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and other regions. With more than two decades of consulting experience, he has held senior roles at EY, Deloitte and IBM, advising banks, insurers and capital markets firms on large-scale transformation and risk management initiatives.
He said 4most’s reputation for delivering “bespoke, scalable solutions” positions the firm to deepen relationships with major financial institutions and expand its global footprint.
4most CEO Rob McDowell said McLaughlin’s appointment reflects the company’s ambition to strengthen its role as a trusted consultancy for financial institutions, particularly as clients navigate heightened regulatory and market uncertainty.
Acquis expands European footprint with new regional leader
Asset finance insurance provider Acquis is expanding its European operations with the appointment of Alexander Nielsen as country manager for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Based in the region and reporting to European sales director Martin Lehnert, Nielsen (pictured above, right) will lead business development and client management efforts. He brings more than 25 years of experience in the leasing sector, including senior roles at Creditreform and leadership of leasing operations in the Baltics, Hungary and Romania.
Nielsen said Acquis’ model offers a strong value proposition for mid-market providers seeking to reduce risk and simplify operations.
Lehnert added that Nielsen’s understanding of the leasing and asset finance sectors will be “instrumental in supporting clients’ growth ambitions and enhancing Acquis’ presence across continental Europe.”
