Peter Blanc

Head of M&A at Howden Group Holdings

After starting his career in motor underwriting, Peter switched to broking, and eventually led a management buy-out of the UK commercial division of Farr in 2000 which he then named FMW Risk Services Ltd. He grew this business to approximately £25m gross written premium before selling the business in December 2007 to Oval. In 2012 Peter was appointed Chief Executive of Oval and he ran the business through until its eventual sale to Arthur J. Gallagher which completed in April 2014.

In May 2015 Peter concluded a management buy-in of Aston Scott and then led the merger with Lark Group in 2017. As Group CEO, he grew the business to more than 1,600 staff operating from over 60 offices across the UK and Ireland and writing just over £1billion of gross written premium. In April 2022 Aston Lark was acquired by Howden Group Holdings and Peter became Executive Chairman of the Howden UK & Ireland business.

Peter was non-executive chairman at Hastings Insurance Services Ltd, the broker arm of Hastings Direct up until the end of 2021 and has previously served as chairman of the Large Brokers’ Advisory Board at the British Insurance Brokers Insurance Association (BIBA).

Timeline

  • Head of M&A

    Current role

  • Executive Chairman, UK & Ireland