Key Changes at Academy Insurance, as Company Eyes Commercial Broking Growth

An update from Academy Insurance, after a couple of key appointments are announced;

Academy Insurance, the purpose-led broking consolidator, has appointed Nick Mountifield Group Chief Operating Officer. Mountifield joins the business from PIB, and replaces Richard Beaven, who is promoted into a new position of Group Managing Director, a role created for him. Both will report to Group CEO Gilles Normand.

The appointments come following Academy’s recent acquisition of Premierline, and mark the next phase in Academy’s plans to build a highly experienced senior management team that can oversee the transformation of the business into a broking powerhouse, according to
Gilles Normand.

He said: “Academy is not merely an EBIT sausage machine; we believe that organic growth and the welfare of our people are critical success factors for our business and we intend to combine our acquisition strategy with organic growth, focusing primarily on building our
commercial SME book.”

“Nick is a hugely experienced professional with a long track record of achievement, both at PIB and previously at Flood re and Willis, and it’s great that he has chosen to join us at Academy. He has particular strengths in integrating businesses to drive operating performance; he will
build on the work Richard [Beaven] has overseen to date, making sure our brilliant professionals have the systems and tools to meet our brand promise: ‘insurance beyond doubt.’”

Nick Mountifield said: “I am keen to be part of what I believe will be a new level of quality in SME and commercial broking. Gilles’ vision of marrying people, technology and data to create a purpose-led broking business is very appealing, and I’m looking forward to playing a
key role in bringing that vision to life.”

Turning to Richard Beaven’s new role as Group MD, Gilles said his focus will be on driving the commercial growth of the integrated businesses following acquisition.

“Now we have completed our move from a branch network to a business lines model, Richard will support our entrepreneurial management teams throughout the UK to deliver the growth we are looking for. We have aggressive targets for both M&A and GWP, with five acquisitions planned for this year and reaching £120m of GWP in three years’ time. Richard will be pivotal to achieving these objectives.”

Richard Beaven said: “I’m relishing this new challenge and looking forward to building our market presence. Our purpose-led broking ethos has landed well with vendors, and it’s genuinely exciting to be part of something that feels new and different in UK commercial broking.”

Both new roles are effective immediately.