QuestGates has strengthened its Building Consultancy Services management team with the appointment of two new operations directors.
The adjusting and claims solutions group has named Dave Hanks as operations director for contractor services and Leigh Smith as operations director for surveying.
Hanks brings broad insurance-sector experience spanning loss adjusting, surveying, contractor management, supply chain and client account management. In his previous role at Cotality, he led sustainability initiatives including work on Science Based Targets (SBTi) and helped develop the firm's Carbon Aware product.
Smith combines technical surveying expertise with experience in leadership and programme delivery, much of it gained in local authority environments. His previous roles include head of housing development, where he was responsible for delivering complex programmes and driving strategic growth across housing portfolios in the social and affordable housing sector.
QuestGates said the appointments reflect ongoing investment in expertise and service capability across the group, at a time when insurers are placing greater emphasis on technical support for complex building claims, sustainability in repair supply chains and tighter control of reinstatement costs.
The moves come against a challenging backdrop for UK property insurers and their suppliers. Home insurance payouts have been rising, driven by higher rebuilding costs, material price volatility and more frequent weather‑related events, while average home claims have increased amid sustained inflation in labour and materials.
Forecasts from construction cost indices point to further building cost and tender price inflation over the rest of the decade, keeping pressure on loss ratios for property underwriters. At the same time, the FCA continues to report high volumes of property insurance complaints, highlighting both the complexity of building claims and the regulatory scrutiny of claims handling standards.
In this context, expanded contractor management and surveying capability is likely to be seen by insurers as a way to improve validation, scoping accuracy and lifecycle control on property claims, as well as to support “build back better” approaches that incorporate resilience and carbon‑reduction measures into reinstatement strategies.
"I am delighted to welcome both Dave and Leigh to the Building Consultancy management team," said Chris Carlton, head of Building Consultancy Services at QuestGates. "Dave will focus on enhancing our Contractor Services offering and expanding the team to support ambitious growth targets, whilst improving performance and quality. Leigh will lead the continued development of our Surveying Services division with a clear ambition to establish it as a leading consultancy. Both bring a strong commitment to innovation, technical excellence and delivering high quality outcomes for our clients.”
