London calling for JM Glendinning Real Estate

Real estate broker JM Glendinning Real Estate is expanding its team and geographic footprint this month with a new base in London.

Headed by Somerset Akerman and Jon-Paul Matyus-Flynn, the office at 1 Bedford Row will enable the company to expand its reach and support for property developers, investors and managers.

Part of the JMG Group, JM Glendinning Real Estate was established in 2017 by Chris Hitch. The company employs 15 people, managing real estate insurance portfolios for companies at every stage of the property development cycle. JMG Real Estate has grown organically and through the acquisition of vehicle, home and property insurance broker Madoc & Rhodes earlier this year.

Now the business will extend its national reach with a London base. Somerset Akerman joins JM Glendinning following five years with London real estate broker Estates Insurance Group (EIG), where he moved from running personal lines and commercial books to a business development role focusing on real estate. “I got a real taste for the real estate world during my time at EIG,” he says. 

“The JMG Group’s ‘people-first’ approach stood out to me, and the opportunity to join the group’s real estate business to head up a brand new office with my former colleague Jon-Paul was too good an opportunity to pass up.”

Jon-Paul Matyus-Flynn also worked at EIG, and previously held roles at high street brokers working on motor, high net worth home insurance and commercial portfolios. Like Somerset, he has developed a talent and passion for business development and jumped at the chance to join Chris Hitch and the JM Glendinning Real Estate team to build a client base in the city:  

“I’m excited by the opportunity to establish a business and a team in London with the backing and support of a well-respected independent insurance broking group,” he says.

“Having support from Chris and the team, as well as the wider JMG group, will enable us to continue building the relationships we’ve spent time creating and nurturing.”  

Chris Hitch says that recruiting Jon-Paul and Somerset was a case of ‘right people, right time’: “I’ve been looking for the right people to help us build the business in London. It’s not every day you meet people with the professionalism, determination, and drive both Somerset and Jon-Paul have. They work incredibly well together, and share the same focus, approach and values, which are in alignment with our own.

“This is a superb opportunity for us to grow the business, strengthen our offering, and build on the strong regional brand we have built in the Midlands over the last seven years.”