Lonmar Financial Specialty Expansion – Giles Smithson appointed divisional director
Lonmar Global Risks (Lonmar), part of Global risk Partners (GRP), has hired experienced specialist financial lines broker Giles Smithson to support the team’s growth plans for its UK and international financial lines proposition.
Giles, who joins Lonmar from Besso, joined Lonmar at the beginning of September as divisional director, Financial and Specialty Lines. He reports to executive director Karen Allen.
Commenting on his new role, Giles said: “My immediate task is to help our clients navigate their way through a challenging period for financial lines, which is experiencing a hardening market as a result of past losses and concerns about the impact of the pandemic.”
“Our focus includes not only assisting Lonmar and GRP clients with their management liability and financial lines requirements, but also looking for opportunities to grow our market presence in this sector.“
“It’s an exciting time to be stepping up to this new role and I’m really looking forward to helping to grow Lonmar’s London wholesale presence and being part of the GRP Group.”Karen Allen, said, “It’s great that someone of Giles’ calibre and experience has joined us at this important time. He will be instrumental in growing Lonmar’s UK and International Financial Lines offering, and helping us achieve our long term growth ambitions.”
About Giles Smithson
Before joining Lonmar, Giles spent over 20 years at Besso, where he was a member of the professional and financial risks division. He began his career in 1991 as a reinsurance broker at Johnson, Puddifoot & Last (now part of Willis Holdings Ltd).