Michael has over 30 years' experience at Lloyd's
and an extensive PLC background. He founded and
managed the Holman Wade Lloyd's broking group from
1980 to 1993. In 1986 he became a Director of Horace
Clarkson plc which was listed on the London Stock
Exchange. In 1993 he founded Corporate Lloyd's
Membership Ltd which became CLM Insurance Fund
plc and was CEO of this Listed group. CLM created
Corporate Members, Managing Agencies and Syndicates
at Lloyd's until its successful sale in 1999.
Michael then formed Rostrum Group Ltd, an FSA
regulated investment management group focused upon
the reinsurance markets, from 2000 to 2005 acting
for significant institutional investors including
the pension funds of BT, the Post Office, British
Gas & British Airways. These funds were returned
to their owners profitably at the conclusion of
the five year contract.
In 2005 he was invited to join Bowood Holdings
Lloyd's broking group as Non-Executive Chairman
to assist the Company review its strategy and achieve
shareholder exit. This was delivered in September
2008 with its sale to the R K Harrison Group. He
became a partner in Paterson Martin in 2006 and
negotiated the reorganization of the Company to
become Optex Group and was appointed its Chairman.
In 2011 he became chairman of Besso Insurance Group
and Optex Group became integrated within the Group
to spearhead reinsurance development in Insurance
Linked Securities.
Michael has served on the Council and Committee
of Lloyd's and served on the 1991 key Lloyd's Taskforce
with McKinsey & Co which recommended the formation
of Equitas and introduction of corporate capital
to Lloyd's. More recently he has served on the
Economic Competitiveness Policy Group of the Conservative
Party.
Michael founded the Lloyd's
Community Programme (a charitable initiative) in
1989, which he chaired for five years, and is also
a Treasurer of the Conservative Party. He is authorised
with the Financial Services Authority for a range
of functions including Chairman, Chief
Executive, Investment Fund Manager and Director.
