Robert Kennedy appointed to succeed Carl Shuker as CEO, Howden UK & Ireland
Howden, the global insurance intermediary group, has announced the appointment of Robert Kennedy as CEO, Howden UK & Ireland. Kennedy will take up his new position on 1 October 2025, reporting into CEO David Howden, while Carl Shuker will become Deputy Chairman of Howden UK & Ireland.
Currently CEO of Howden Ireland, Kennedy joined Aston Lark in 2020. He also brings a depth of experience from previous leadership positions across the industry including at Aston Lark prior to its acquisition by Howden, Aviva, RSA and Aon.
Carl Shuker will transition into the role of Deputy Chairman, having spent 13 years as CEO of A-Plan and a subsequent four years as CEO of Howden UK & Ireland, following A-Plan’s acquisition by Howden in 2021. In his new position, Shuker will remain closely involved with Howden UK & Ireland and will continue to support Kennedy in the next stages of Howden’s growth journey.
David Howden, CEO, Howden, said: “Rob has built a leading, full-spectrum broker in the Irish market over the last five years. With an incredibly exciting future ahead for our UK & Ireland business, I couldn’t be more pleased that we have extraordinary talent like Rob, an entrepreneur of our own, to lead it through the next phase of integration, growth and acceleration. He will take over a standout broking business from Carl, which is delivering solutions to millions of clients providing personal and commercial lines insurance, employee benefits and pensions advisory, and mortgage and wealth advice, operating from the high street and from offices the length and breadth of the country.
“When I first met Carl, his deep commitment to empowering great people to delight their clients and be major contributors to their communities was clear from the outset. We were thrilled when he chose to make Howden A-Plan’s long-term home. It is a business which has always bucked the trends and delivered results like no other. Since he joined us he has brought the UK&I businesses together to build a UK&I powerhouse, and his 45 years in the industry is one of the best examples of people-first, ambitious growth that you will find. The business will continue to benefit from his strategic counsel in his new role as Deputy Chairman.”
Robert Kennedy, newly appointed CEO of Howden UK & Ireland, commented: “I am deeply honoured to assume the role of CEO at the leading insurance broker across the UK and Ireland. This region holds a critical position in delivering Howden’s global strategic objectives, and I am excited to lead our exceptional teams through the next phase of growth. My immediate priorities will be to strengthen collaboration across all our teams to bring the best of Howden to every client and to enhance our infrastructure, ensuring we continue to deliver outstanding service to our clients with greater speed and efficiency. I would also like to acknowledge Carl’s outstanding leadership and am grateful to have the opportunity to benefit from his extensive experience during this transition.”
Carl Shuker, CEO, Howden UK&I, added: “After an amazingly enjoyable 45 years in the industry, starting at A-Plan as a fresh faced 19-year-old and eventually becoming CEO of Howden UK&I, I am delighted to pass the reins to Rob to lead us into the next chapter. The people in this business make it the special place that it is, and I am so incredibly proud of them. I’m looking forward to supporting Rob to deliver on our strengths as we do even more together.”
Kennedy’s appointment is subject to regulatory approval.
Acquisition of leading independent broker Reich further builds Howden’s UK footprint
Howden, the international insurance broker, announced the acquisition of Reich Insurance Group, marking a significant step in its expansion in the North West of England. Reich is one of the top ten independent insurance brokers in the UK, reflecting Howden’s strategy to partner with high quality, culturally aligned companies that deliver knowledge and expertise to its clients.
Reich is a £100m+ GWP business, headquartered in Manchester and servicing UK and international clients, with over 140 employees and a reputation for exceptional client service. Led by Simon Taylor and Danny Lopian, the business offers a full spectrum of insurance solutions for both individuals and businesses, from SMEs to large corporations, with particular specialisms in Property, Construction & Development, as well as Life and Healthcare.
Peter Blanc, Executive Chairman, Howden UK & Ireland, commented: “I’ve known Simon and Danny for many years and have always admired their business. Their reputation is outstanding and their areas of specialism, particularly in real estate and construction as well as healthcare, are completely aligned with Howden. All of our discussions were centred on the future and how the Reich team would fit within the Howden business – and the answer is that it’s a perfect match. I’m really looking forward to meeting all of our new colleagues and welcoming them to the Howden family.”
David Howden, CEO, Howden, added: “Simon is an industry entrepreneur, who for the last 20 years has led Reich to be the success story we see today. Howden has become the natural home for insurance industry entrepreneurs, both in the UK and across the world, who put their trust in us as they know that our people and our clients are at the heart of everything we do. I am delighted to welcome Simon, Danny and Reich to the Group.”
Simon Taylor, CEO, Reich, shared: “While we have grown to become one of the largest independent brokers in the market, we have been searching for the perfect partner to take us to the next level and we were not prepared to merge until we found that right partner.
“We needed a business that matched our absolute focus on providing the very best to our clients in their search for the right insurance product. In this market, we felt that only one business was the perfect fit, and that was Howden: a hugely successful, ambitious, customer-centric broking giant, large enough to make a major difference in the market but still entirely concentrated on providing the very best service for their clients.
“We look forward to working with Peter, Stuart and the team in continuing the service excellence and growth momentum we have achieved as Reich, within the wider Howden Group. We are very excited by what the future holds.”
Danny Lopian, Director, Reich, added: “We are very excited by this opportunity to come together with Howden, who we see as an ideal fit for our business, our staff and our clients. This will give us the opportunity to provide a greater and broader service to our clients and we look forward to developing our business services to even higher levels.”