Verlingue, a chartered insurance consultancy, has announced plans to create a new office in Birmingham in order to increase its clientele in the Midlands and South West.
The consultancy will offer its full range of risk management, broking, and employee benefits packages from its new office. The consultancy specialised in aiding corporate and mid-corporate sized businesses.
New hire Ian McKinney, director, corporate – Midlands & South West, Verlingue, will oversee the operation.
McKinney, who has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, arrives from broker A J Gallagher, where he most recently served as client services director in the Coventry office. He has had positions at both national and international insurance consultancies throughout his career, including those at Oval, Lockton, Aon, and Willis, where he began as a graduate trainee.
McKinney says: “Verlingue is a fantastic business that I have admired from afar for a long time. It has a great leadership team that are respected across the market and a family business culture that delivers real long-term value for its clients and its people. This combination makes it a hugely attractive prospect for businesses and talented people in the market who are looking to join us on our journey.
“Having spent the last ten years working face to face with clients in the Midlands and South West I really understand this market and the huge potential for growth. Having an office on the ground is the next logical step to help us expand our services to clients.
“I am truly looking forward to building a team, over the next few years, encompassing the best and brightest talent in the market and believe that Verlingue is a very exciting alternative for those who’ve become disillusioned with the constant churn and deteriorating service of the consolidator and global broker models.”
Verlingue CEO Mike Latham says: “There is no doubt that the continued consolidation in the broker market has left a major gap for corporate and mid-corporate clients who are looking for high-quality advice and service delivered by experienced people who understand their business. For many years, our business has been built on our ability to consistently provide what those clients need.”