Higos-owned GRP Group has announced the appointment of Matthew Hartigan as its Managing Director to succeed Interim MD Neil Thornton, who has overseen the South West-based broker since Ian Gosden’s retirement earlier in the year.
Matthew will begin his new role prior to the end of June, and will report to Neil Thornton, GRP’s MD of Retail Broking.
Mike Bruce, GRP’s CEO Broking, said: “I am delighted Matthew has chosen to join us from Zurich, where he has been Head of Regional Market for the South West, Midlands and Wales. As a result, he has deep knowledge and experience of Higos’ local market and is a high-quality signing for us.”
“Matthew brings with him 26 years in underwriting, broking, sales and branch leadership, and his thorough understanding of the UK insurance market makes him the right choice to lead Higos successfully through the next stage of its journey.”
Matthew said: “Higos is the jewel in the crown for insurance broking in the South West, and I am proud and excited by the opportunity to build on the recent progress made by Neil and the management team in order to cement its position as the dominant player in this part of the world.”
“Higos is a prime example of how brokers can thrive and prosper as part of a bigger group in GRP; yet retain their independent identity. My mandate is to grow Higos by building a strategic partnership with our insurers that delivers value for our insurer partners, our clients and our parent company.”
“My experience from working for both insurers and brokers, has taught me that the best possible outcome for clients is through all stakeholders working together, and I plan to bring that operating ethos to Higos.”
Matthew Hartigan brief biography
Matthew began his career as a fire underwriter for Royal and Sun Alliance in 1992. After five years he moved into sales, with the Independent, joining Smart and Cook in Harrogate as an account executive in 1999. In 2005 he joined Zurich in Leeds and was promoted to Head of Broker Market for Wales and the South West in 2007. He fulfilled a number of leadership roles for Zurich from 2011-17 with both national and regional management responsibilities. In 2018 he was appointed Head of Regional Market for the Midlands, Wales and the South West before being headhunted for the MD’s role at Higos.