JM Glendinning North East expands team and offices

Newcastle-based insurance broker, JM Glendinning North East, has appointed five experienced team members and doubled the size of its premises to support its growing business.

The independently-owned and managed broker firm has welcomed Adele Duff, Greg Fisher and Phill Houghton as account handlers who will work with SME clients on sales, along with existing insurance policies and policy renewals. Also joining the business are account executives Nicola Brookman and Richard Rouse, who will support future growth of the corporate team whilst ensuring a quality service is provided to existing clients.

The new team members collectively bring over 90 years of insurance industry experience to the business, joining from major national insurance industry businesses. They join the team of 17 staff, who are all based at its expanded Gosforth Business Park premises. To accommodate the new team members and future growth, JM Glendinning has recently doubled the size of its offices, now taking an additional 1,500 sq ft office space on the ground floor, beneath its existing office.

The firm was established when family-owned Yorkshire headquartered JM Glendinning group appointed insurance specialist Neil Forrest to set up and lead a team in the North East, originally providing niche insurance services for ‘hard to insure’ businesses. Whilst this niche sector is still a core part of the plans, the business is now also focused on growing its corporate client base in the North East and beyond. It is one of eight companies in the JM Glendinning group, first opening its doors in March 2013. The business has grown from two members of staff to 22 over six years and has increased its premium income revenue from zero to £4million over the same six years. It forecasts an increase in premium revenue to £8m in the next three years.

Bringing over 30 years’ experience to the business is account executive, Richard Rouse. Richard says: “JM Glendinning has an enviable reputation in the market, and I was seeking the right opportunity with an independent broker that is dynamic, agile and customer-focused when the opportunity arose. There are very few large independent brokers left in the market place and, as such, we have an excellent opportunity to build further on the firm foundations of the company and deliver a class leading service. I’m excited to be part of it.”

Managing Director, Neil Forrest says: “I’m very pleased to introduce these high calibre new recruits to the team. They have strong industry experience under their belts and will be instrumental in providing the top level of service which clients expect from us, and in the continued growth of the business.”