Collins to step down as Howden exec chair

Dominic Collins will step down as executive chairman of Howden and become president emeritus once a successor has been appointed.

Collins (pictured) has served as chairman since May 2015, when RKH and Howden came together.

Howden said the transition comes with its US business now established and the group positioned for further growth as it looks ahead to becoming a public company.

Collins will remain closely involved with the business in his new role.

David Howden, CEO of Howden, said: “After more than a decade as my business partner and Executive Chairman of Howden, it is hard to overstate the contribution Dominic has made to this business.

“He has been intrinsic to our US retail build-out, and in how we have attracted and nurtured exceptional talent and realised our ambitions to become a truly global broker.”

Howden said group revenue has grown from around $400m to more than $5bn since RKH and Howden combined.

David Howden added: “Through this, we have achieved our goals of becoming number one in our home market, a market leader in Europe, building global specialty capabilities, and establishing a tier one Reinsurance business.”

Collins said: “It has been the privilege of my career to help build Howden into the business it is today.

“When RKH and Howden came together, our shared vision was to create something different. We were determined to build a truly global broker with an entrepreneurial spirit that would attract and retain the best people in our industry.”

He added: “The foundations for the Group’s continued success are now in place. I have great confidence in David and the leadership team as they take the Group forward into its next chapter.”

Howden said Collins’ successor will be announced following the conclusion of a search process.