Business now part of ABL Group, as ABL Risk Solutions
Move creates Northern Ireland’s largest insurance broker with £120m+ GWP
Senior roles for WTW NI leaders as all staff transfer
Global Risk Partners (GRP) has completed its acquisition of Willis Towers Watson’s (WTW) commercial risk and broking business in Northern Ireland.
The £65m gross written premium (GWP) portfolio is now part of GRP’s Northern Ireland brokerage ABL Group, with ABL’s CEO Maurice Boyd heading up the combined organisation.
All WTW staff involved with the portfolio have moved across to the newly-formed ABL Risk Solutions. The combined business will move into new offices in City Quays 1 in Belfast on 21st November 2021.
Harry Weir, who headed up the WTW NI team, has been appointed Vice Chairman of ABL Group, with his former deputy Shauna Graham becoming Managing Director of ABL Risk Solutions.
Maurice Boyd said: “Completion of this deal is a great milestone for us and we’re delighted to welcome such a fantastic team into ABL.
“I am very pleased that Harry and Shauna and their colleagues are now part of the combined business. We will benefit from their skills and experience, and they can look forward to great opportunities within the ABL Group.
“This portfolio of high-quality commercial business is another boost to our own strength and future prospects, and the deal underpins our confidence in Northern Ireland’s economic future.”
GRP’s Group CEO Mike Bruce said: “We have remained focused on our acquisition strategy throughout the recent challenging and disrupted times. The completion of this excellent deal, transforming ABL into the number one broker in Northern Ireland, is robust evidence of how well that focus has paid off.
“It gives us a great platform to continue to build upon our presence in Northern Ireland, and is a strong signal of our continued drive for growth through M&A across the whole of the UK and Ireland.”