Bob Darling has announced his intention to step-down as CEO of Jensten Group on the 5th August. Mr Darling will remain on the Jensten Board and will continue to support the Group's ambitious ongoing acquisitions programme and its retail business, Coversure, on a part-time basis. Mr Darling will be succeeded by Alistair Hardie.
Mr Darling joined the business in 2009 as Managing Director of Coversure and the newly established online wholesalers, Policyfast. Since his arrival both companies have enjoyed sustained organic growth and have become leading forces in their respective marketplaces.
In 2018, he led a successful Management Buy Out which saw the creation of the Jensten Group and his elevation to the position of Group CEO. Most recently he developed and oversaw a comprehensive COVID-19 plan which saw over 450 staff from 93 locations moved to safe, remote working, ensuring service levels were maintained throughout the crisis.
Mr Hardie is currently CEO of the Charles Taylor Group's Assistance and Specialist Claims Management businesses. In 2015 he bought CEGA (a travel assistance provider) which he subsequently sold to Charles Taylor. He has spent over 35 years in the insurance sector, has a wealth of experience in personal and commercial lines with a strong emphasis on distribution. Prior to his current role he ran the UK's largest travel MGA.
Mr Hardie commented, "I am delighted to be joining the Jensten team, which has an excellent track record of growing a successful business and look forward to working with all our partners - franchises, in-house and third-party brokers, and insurers – to take that success to the next level. With an experienced and dynamic management team and a committed investor in Livingbridge, I have no doubt we can make Jensten the only logical home for specialist brokers, and the preferred distributor for our capital providers."
Commenting on his change of role, Mr Darling said, "It's been a privilege to have led the Jensten Group. I've had the pleasure of working alongside a team of dedicated, entrepreneurial individuals whose focus has always been on positive outcomes for their customers. Having successfully mounted an MBO, assembled an outstanding leadership team and created an ambitious M&A programme, I feel the time has come to take a step back. The Group's future is exceptionally bright, and I look forward to supporting Alistair as he takes the business forward."
The change of leadership comes at a time of organic and acquisition-driven growth for the Group. Jensten recently completed its purchase of Senior Wright and further acquisitions will be announced in the near future.