News
Stay informed with the latest news and perspectives from the MGAA, our members, and partner organisations.
Tim Smyth
Tim is a highly accomplished insurance executive with over 40 years’ experience across the UK insurance market, having held multiple CEO and Chair roles and successfully founded and led his own businesses. Over the past 15 years, he has specialised in creating, scaling, and leading UK-based MGAs across commercial and personal lines, with a strong...
28th January 2026
Michael Keating
Mike has been CEO of the Managing General Agents’ Association (MGAA) since September 2020, bringing with him a successful and diverse career in the insurance industry. He began his career as an underwriter in the company market before joining AXA Commercial in 1999, where he managed strategic MGA and delegated authority partnerships. He later became...
29th May 2023
Callum Alexander
Callum is the Director of Delegated Authority at Lloyd’s. In this role, he is responsible for the performance management, oversight, and strategic development of Lloyd’s delegated authority proposition. By consolidating all delegated activities across the Corporation, Callum’s remit is to ensure a holistic, future-proof approach to Delegated Authority that keeps pace with the evolving nature...
28th January 2026
Daniel Berry
Dan has over 20 years’ experience in the insurance industry and is currently CUO for Brown & Brown (Europe). He started his career in the Lloyd’s market followed by stints at QBE, W R Berkley and Aspen in various underwriting leadership roles. He has broad experience across commercial and personal lines in underwriting, sales and...
24th July 2024
Paul Brady
Paul Brady joined Sompo (formerly Aspen Insurance Group) in July 2025 where he is Head of Compliance Assurance and Group Corporate Services. Before joining Aspen Paul held various senior roles at Lloyd’s including Market Oversight Counsel, where he advised on high impact and emerging risks, and Head of Policyholder & Third-Party Oversight where he led...
25th March 2024
Ian Cook
Ian has worked in the insurance industry for over 30 years, spending time with both leading Lloyd’s syndicates and insurance brokers in a variety of roles. With the creation of Specialist Risk Group in November 2019, Ian became a member of the Group Executive Committee taking up the role of Portfolio Management Director, working with...
27th March 2024
David Coupe
David has been practising corporate commercial law for over 35 years, principally around the London and Lloyd’s insurance market. Prior to founding his own practice in 2012, he had been a partner at two of the best known London insurance and commercial legal practices. He advises and supports insurance brokers, underwriting agents, MGAs, insurers and...
24th May 2023
Marco Del Carlo
Marco is a specialist in non-life insurance programme business across a range of classes with over 30 years of professional experience. Marco is currently: Director of XS Assure Limited – a MGA which underwrites Professional Indemnity business CEO of Capacity Place Limited – an insurance broker/InsurTech which specialises in insurance programme placement for delegated authority...
4th May 2023
Laura Hancock
Starting my career at Norwich Union in 1995, I moved to The Davis Group, and subsequently Bluefin where I became Distribution Director in their schemes/MGA business. I have built a 30-year career spanning sales, broking and underwriting, culminating in my current role as Managing Director of Yutree Insurance Ltd, a Chartered broking and underwriting firm,...
28th January 2026
Gary Head
Gary Head was appointed Chief Underwriting Officer at Optio in March 2025. He joined the business following a distinguished tenure at AXA, where he served as Director of Schemes & Delegated Authority from January 2020, and subsequently led the Financial Lines & Specialty teams from January 2022. During his time at AXA, the business was...
28th January 2026
Julia Coakley
As COO of the MGAA, Julia is dedicated to supporting the MGA community and ensuring members have the tools they need to succeed. With over 25 years of experience in the insurance sector, Julia has built a career on strong relationships, operational expertise, and a commitment to outstanding service. At the MGAA, this means working...
11th May 2023
Sarah Greenwood
I’ve over 20 years of experience working for international professional associations/organisations as well as agencies, events’ organisers and corporates. I’ve delivered amazing events in locations all over the world including 5* quality conferences, gala dinners, launches, scientific sessions and receptions with all manner of briefs and aims. I love a challenging event, some of the...
9th July 2024
Jonathan Skinner
Having started my career as a property underwriter in Lloyd’s, I’ve spent the last 15+ years in and around the MGA market. Experience includes setting up and running my own MGA; being part of the leadership team of one of the UK’s largest MGA’s; as well as being on the insurer side supporting MGA’s with...
28th May 2023
Michelle Taylor
Michelle returned to Aviva in December 2023 as Director of Strategic Accounts , Michelle broadened her responsibility in September 2024 to look after the Regional Sales & Distribution accountability across the UK, including Club 110, her role also includes New Business and Bid Management. Michelle has spent 35 years in the insurance in a variety...
28th January 2026
Lyndsey Thompson
Currently the Head of Operations at Incorporated Insurance Group Ltd (IIGL), I have over twenty five years experience in both the broking and underwriting sectors of the UK commercial insurance sector. Myself and a group of other partners established IIGL in 2013 and we have since grown into one of the leading insurance providers to...
3rd May 2023
Samantha Grace
As an individual who enjoys the challenges that a busy role brings, I have over 25 years of experience in both the insurance and financial sectors where I have held various roles and achieved a wealth of knowledge. After working in the financial sector for 10 years at companies such as Credit Suisse and Reuters,...
11th May 2023
Jess Norman
Bringing over 15 years of seasoned expertise in Marketing from dynamic landscapes in both New Zealand and the UK, I’ve worked in diverse industries ranging from Insurance to Electronics and Manufacturing. Outside the realm of strategic campaigns and market trends, you’ll often find me immersed in the world of rugby (compulsory being a Kiwi), relishing...
20th March 2024
Manveen Twohill
With over a decade of experience in learning and development across the insurance, financial services, legal and higher education sectors, I have led the design and delivery of global learning strategies and programmes within a complex, matrixed organisation and higher education institution before joining the MGAA. When not working I enjoy hiking, watching formula 1...
7th January 2026
Jenna Foster
As a Member Services Executive at the MGAA, I leverage my background in insurance and digital marketing to support our members and enhance their experience. With years of experience in customer service and managing commercial and construction insurance portfolios, I bring a comprehensive understanding of the industry to my role. Before joining the MGAA, I...
11th May 2023
Alison Hunt
With over 25 years of experience in publishing and membership organisations, I have worked across various sectors including insurance, financial and the nuclear industry. My roles have encompassed subscription and membership management, direct marketing, and event administration. I began my career in insurance publishing contributing to the growth of several publications that are still in...
12th November 2024
Chloe Yeung
As a trilingual and detail-oriented team player with 10 years of experience in event operations and event marketing, I have a strong track record in managing multiple events, as well as developing and delivering strategic event logistics, budget management, and onsite team coordination. Having worked in both the UK and Hong Kong, I bring a...
26th March 2026
Jack Harding
Jack has over 12 years’ experience in the insurance industry, having held underwriting roles at leading MGAs including Miramar Underwriting and DUAL. Now at Tokio Marine Kiln, he focuses on delegated cyber business, bringing a strong understanding of the MGA model and the evolving cyber landscape. As Chair of the MGAA Next Gen Committee, Jack...
23rd May 2023
Zoe Parsons
I’m thrilled to be part of the MGAA Next Gen Committee as Social Media Co-Lead, leveraging my role as Head of Marketing at REG Technologies and passion for D&I to empower young professionals. With a commitment to embodying the ethos of ‘modern minds for modern consumers’, I’m dedicated to amplifying the voices of youth within...
27th March 2024
Thomas Pereira
Thomas works as an Assistant Underwriter in the Green Solutions team at Munich Re Specialty, where he focuses on providing renewable energy solutions to clients. Previously he worked at Sompo as an Underwriting Assistant and has been in the insurance industry since 2021. He holds a 1st class Economics degree from Queen Mary University, London....
4th October 2024
Daniela Atencio-Martin
With over a decade of experience in the dynamic worlds of banking and insurance, I proudly serve as a Portfolio Solutions Leader at AXA XL, a global powerhouse in risk management and insurance solutions. In my role, I collaborate with both traditional and alternative distribution channels, working closely with our strategic partners to craft tailored...
27th March 2024
Emily Lewis
I’m delighted to be joining the MGAA Next Gen Committee! I’m passionate about the existence of next generation groups and how they can nurture an environment for networking with young, like-minded people and provide a home for future leaders. My day-to-day role is Business Development at Pro MGA. Working for an “Incubator” requires engagement with...
20th June 2025
Alistair Danesh
Alistair works at Pen Underwriting, managing their Strategy and Corporate Development division. His responsibilities include delivering mergers and acquisitions, innovation, geographic expansion and generally driving Pen towards their strategic ambitions. Since joining in 2022, Alistair has integrated into the company’s strong I&D and charity network, where he deputises the Charity committee having previously led the...
4th October 2024
Zara Williams
Away from the committee, Zara works at Rokstone Underwriting where she heads the Outward Reinsurance Claims function. With over 10 years’ industry experience, Zara has built a deep understanding of high value claims, recovery strategy and the operational discipline needed to keep complex programmes moving. She began her career in insurance shortly after completing her...
20th January 2026
Jake Ives
I’m delighted to be joining the MGAA Next Gen Committee. My day-to-day role is Head of Security at Intersys Ltd, a family-owned MSSP based in London’s Leadenhall Market. I joined the business in 2012 straight from school and have worked my way up through the organisation, gaining hands-on experience across technology, risk, and operational security....
20th January 2026
Ella Harding
Ella is excited to be joining the MGAA Next Gen Committee as Media Co-Lead, alongside her role as Marketing and Events Coordinator at Iprism. She has been with Iprism for over two years and brings more than five years of experience in marketing. Alongside this, she holds a degree in Musical Theatre, which has shaped...
19th June 2026
Juliane Murphy
I’m so excited to join the MGAA Next Gen committee and hope to contribute to initiatives that support outreach, engagement, and pathways into the MGA and wider insurance sector. Drawing on my experience across the insurance and education industries, I will bring a strong perspective on building meaningful connections and helping to inspire the next...
20th January 2026