Latest news with #JimHays
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Howden steers US retail broking push with Mike Parrish as CEO
Howden has named Mike Parrish as CEO of Howden US and Jim Hays as vice-chairman of Howden Group Holdings. Parrish is tasked with establishing a US retail broking business. He will start at Howden in September, pending the completion of applicable contractual requirements. His previous experience includes roles at Aon and Marsh, where he has experience in scaling the US operations effectively. Bringing 40 years of US insurance industry experience to the board, Jim Hays was the founder and former CEO of Hays Company. He sold the company to Brown & Brown in 2018 and served in positions include vice-chair and board member at Brown & Brown. Hays said: 'I could not be more energised to join this incredibly exciting, deeply ambitious Group with its army of entrepreneurs dedicated to serving clients. And of course, to work with David, who is in my view one of the most visionary leaders in business today.' Howden has been operational in the US for more than a decade through DUAL, Howden Re and as a wholesale broker for US clients in international markets, handling more than $18bn in US premiums to date. Howden CEO David Howden stated: 'Mike's appointment is an incredibly important moment in our 30-year history of building a global group with an energetic and entrepreneurial culture, owned by the people who work in it. In Mike we have found one of insurance's most outstanding leaders, with an owner's mindset and an unrivalled track-record, who wants the freedom to build a business that is an alternative home for talent and clients in the US. 'And in Jim we have one of the most accomplished entrepreneurs in the US, who brings a wealth of experience to the Group Board as we accelerate towards our ambitious 2030 vision.' Last month, Howden acquired a 68.3% stake in Holos Holdings, a Japan-headquartered retail insurance broker. "Howden steers US retail broking push with Mike Parrish as CEO " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
04-08-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Mike Parrish Appointed as CEO, Howden U.S. and Jim Hays as Vice Chairman, Howden Group Holdings
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Howden, the global insurance intermediary group, today announces the appointment of Mike Parrish as Chief Executive Officer, Howden U.S., and of Jim Hays as Vice Chairman, Howden Group Holdings. Mike will build a next-generation U.S. retail broking business for clients and talent, bringing Howden's unique employee-ownership driven and client-centric model to the largest and most dynamic insurance market in the world. Jim will bring more than 40 years' U.S. insurance industry experience to the Howden Group Board. Mike is one of the industry's most successful business builders, with a proven track record of scaling highly successful U.S. operations. His appointment reflects Howden's approach to empowering the very best leaders in each territory to build great businesses by attracting exceptional talent and giving that talent the freedom to put their clients at the heart of the business. Mike spent the best part of two decades at Aon, where he built a market-leading business, before joining Marsh in 2021. He will join Howden in September, subject to the fulfilment of relevant contractual obligations. Jim is a deeply experienced U.S. insurance executive and entrepreneur who previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Hays Company, an insurance broker which he founded in 1994 and sold to Brown & Brown in 2018. He served as Vice Chair and as a member of the Board of Brown & Brown, Inc. He started Hays as a seven-person operation and oversaw more than 25 years of growth to build one of the leading independent U.S. brokers. Howden started with three people in 1994 and has become a top 10 global broker with more than 22,000 people, including nearly 6,000 employee shareholders who own 34% of the Group. It has done this by attracting entrepreneurs to build businesses across 56 countries, today managing $47 billion in premiums and providing a full-service offering across retail, specialty, and reinsurance broking, risk capital advisory, employee benefits, and underwriting and program management. Howden already has substantial operations in the U.S. where more than a quarter of its revenue is generated. It has operated in the U.S. for more than a decade through DUAL, one of the world's largest Managing General Agents, through Howden Re, one of only four global reinsurance brokers, and through many years of supporting US-domiciled clients as their wholesale broker in international markets, with more than $18bn of US premiums today. Jim Hays, Vice Chairman, Howden Group Holdings, said: 'I could not be more energized to join this incredibly exciting, deeply ambitious Group with its army of entrepreneurs dedicated to serving clients. And of course, to work with David, who is in my view one of the most visionary leaders in business today. I was privileged to count Neil Armstrong as a personal friend, so the fact that the news of Howden's further investment in the USA was first rumoured in the press on the 21st July - the day an American first walked on the Moon – was particularly apposite for me.' David Howden, CEO, Howden, said: 'From the beginning we built Howden on the principle that if we look after our people they will look after our clients. This means we hire great people and get out of their way, truly empowering them to do what's best for their clients. This is why our organic growth consistently outperforms the market. 'Mike's appointment is an incredibly important moment in our 30-year history of building a global group with an energetic and entrepreneurial culture, owned by the people who work in it. The foundation of our success has always been in finding the right leaders who are driven to build a business they can be proud of. In Mike we've found one of insurance's most outstanding leaders, with an owner's mindset and an unrivalled track-record, who wants the freedom to build a business that is an alternative home for talent and clients in the U.S. And in Jim we have one of the most accomplished entrepreneurs in the U.S., who brings a wealth of experience to the Group Board as we accelerate towards our ambitious 2030 vision. 'I am passionate about the role insurance can play in the world, facilitating growth and helping to solve some of the biggest challenges we are facing. In a consolidating market we're answering a clear desire from clients, insurers, and talent for choice by being the destination for top talent. And I am especially proud that when others in the broking market are cutting costs, we are investing to create jobs in the U.S. to provide better service to clients. We will combine the full weight of our global capabilities to deliver expertise and service with a difference in the U.S. and internationally. 'Our doors are now open. We can't wait to get started.' About Howden Howden is a global insurance intermediary group with employee ownership at its heart. Founded in 1994, it provides insurance broking, reinsurance broking and underwriting services and solutions to clients ranging from individuals to the largest multinational companies. The group operates in 56 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, the USA, Australia and New Zealand, employing 22,000 people and handling $47bn of premium on behalf of clients.
