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It has been a few weeks since the announcement that Bravo Group is now part of Ardonagh’s Advisory platform. This is an exciting time for us all and will truly help us to grow and cement our leading position in the market. So, in this edition of Our Voice, we wanted to provide you with an opportunity to learn a bit more about the Ardonagh Group.
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A r d o n a g h A d v i s o r y C E O, R o b Wo r r e l l TELL US HOW YOU GOT INTO THE INDUSTRY? At the age of 18, I started as an A Level Trainee at Provincial Insurance. I got my first broking job shortly before my 21st birthday, working as a Commercial Account Handler. I owe so much to Kevin Cody, now MD of Broker Network Member Radius Insurance Brokers, who gave me that job, as it started a real love affair with broking. When I was 24, along with three older (and far wiser) friends, I set up The Insurance Partnership (TIP). TIP grew to £60m+ GWP, up to its sale to Jelf in 2013. Within Jelf, I became CEO of the General Insurance Broking Division, before joining Ardonagh in 2017. I still remain active, seeing clients regularly and sitting on Aviva’s Retail Council and Allianz’s Strategic Partner Forum. IF YOU HAD TO DESCRIBE THE ADVISORY PLATFORM IN THREE WORDS WHAT WOULD THEY BE? Resilient, diverse, unstoppable. WH AT I S T HE M O ST EXC I TI N G TH I N G FOR YO U ABOUT T HE B RAVO G RO UP B ECO MIN G PART OF ADVI SO RY ? It feels to me as if it is ‘coming home’ and I am being reunited with some old trusted, highly rated and valued friends, as well as having the chance to work with some new colleagues who I have previously admired from afar. In terms of the networks, at heart I will always think like an independent broker. WH AT I S YOU R FAVO URI TE TH I N G A B O UT YO U R J OB AND WO RK I N G FO R A RD O N AGH ? Being both trusted and empowered by David Ross, the CEO of Ardonagh, seems to bring the best out of me; as such, I am lucky enough to have a wide remit, which is my favourite aspect, although there are a number of other positives.
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WH AT GOALS DO YOU H AVE FOR TH E NEXT F IVE YE ARS FOR TH E ADVISORY PL ATFORM? I want us to keep improving, raising the quality bar and be the very best version of ourselves – both clients and colleagues deserve the best of us. I aspire, as do my leadership team, to deliver that and be relentless in its pursuit.
“It feels to me as if it is ‘coming home’ ” WH E N YOU ’RE N OT WORKIN G , WH E RE WOU L D WE F IN D YOU ? At home with my family, in the gym or, if the weather permits, on the golf course. WH AT ’ S YOU R SEC RE T TAL E N T TH AT N O ON E KN OWS AB OUT ? I haven’t many talents, whether secret or otherwise, but I can touch my nose with my tongue – says more about the size of my nose than my tongue! WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IS OVER? I used to be either a f irm hand-shaker or a hugger – returning to either or both would be lovely but there’s no early signs that that will be the case.
