London’s overall leading broker for 2023 revealed…

BPL Global’s Charlie Radcliffe has topped this year’s overall ranking of leading London brokers, following a nomination-based survey conducted by Insurindex, a joint venture between insurance research consultancy Gracechurch and Brandex.

The third annual edition of the London broker ranking report received nominations for 561 individuals from 67 different broking houses.

Radcliffe, who has served as deputy CEO of BPL since October 2022, topped the ranking, while second place saw a three-way tie between Charlie Skipworth-Button, Chris Wetherell and Oliver Pidgeon.

Skipworth-Button, who placed sixth in the overall London broker ranking last year, has served as divisional director at BMS since February 2022.

Wetherell, a political and credit risk insurance broker, joined Lockton back in 2001, while Pidgeon serves as managing director at Bowood, Howden’s specialist delegated binding authority division.

Closing out the top three was Lockton’s Carlo Ramadoro, who has held the role of senior vice president since July.

Previously, he was vice president of Lockton’s global professional and financial risks division, where he focused on the placement of US and international cyber and technology and professional indemnity risks.

Of the top 10 overall brokers, six hailed from the war and political risk business.

The only female broker in the top 10 overall ranking was BPL Global director Charlotte Hampshire, who joined the firm in 2016 following almost five years at WTW as a political risk broker.

Marsh’s David Patten featured in the top 10 overall London brokers, having been named last year’s leading energy broker. Look out for more coverage from The Insurer on specific line of business rankings in the coming days.

Last year’s runner-up Freddie Tyler appeared in the top overall ranking again. Tyler has served as divisional director, crisis management at Costero since January 2021. Prior to this, he spent seven years at Tysers as a war, political violence and terrorism broker.

Completing the top 10 list were two representatives from Tysers: David Soper and John Lentaigne, who has served as global head of credit and political risk since August 2020.

Insurindex noted in the report that the top spots were dominated by brokers working outside of the traditional global powerhouses.

“Regardless of the business line or size of brokerage required, clients have a wealth of individual and institutional talent to draw upon for their diverse needs,” said the report.

In this year’s bench strength ranking for broking houses Aon took the top position, while last year’s leader Marsh placed second.

WTW overtook Howden to take third position, with the other top spots completed by Gallagher, Lockton, BMS, Guy Carpenter, Tysers, Alesco and Price Forbes.

BMS was the only new entrant, with the Nick Cook-led broker rising four places year on year alongside Gallagher, making them the two fastest risers in the survey.

This year, Insurindex considered the leading broker groups following a busy 12 months of M&A activity, particularly among brokers.

Aon and Marsh (including Guy Carpenter and Bowring Marsh) tied for the top spot, placing “well ahead” ahead of Gallagher in third place (including Alesco and Gallagher Re).

Howden ranked fourth in the broking groups, which Insurindex noted was built on the brands of Howden Tiger, Bowood, Aston Lark and Howden Re.