Meet our U.S. team

Mike leads Howden’s expansion into US retail insurance, spanning all 50 states, 18 industry verticals, Employee Health and Benefits, the Middle Market, Private Capital and Private Client. He also oversees Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile and the Caribbean, spanning corporate and commercial lines, Private Capital, key sector verticals, and Employee Health and Benefits.

Prior to joining Howden, Mike spent nearly two decades at Aon, where he oversaw retail broking and key client relationships along the Eastern Seaboard. He also led Marsh's Florida-zone business, one of the company’s largest, most complex and strategically significant territories in the United States. He served on the Executive Committee for both firms, earning repeated recognition for client growth, client satisfaction, and organizational leadership.

Mike previously served for more than two decades with the Southern Florida chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, where he was named Man of the Year for record-setting fundraising. A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Mike holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and business management from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Alexander leads the strategy, architecture, and governance of data across Howden’s rapidly expanding commercial insurance business in the US. With experience spanning global brokerage, insurtech innovation, and applied research, he specializes in turning complex data into practical insights that empower brokers, strengthen client outcomes, and enable smarter decisions at scale.

Before joining Howden, Alexander spent five years leading enterprise-wide data strategy initiatives and cloud-native transformations across global business lines. He’s based in Chicago and holds a degree in mathematics and economics from Northwestern University.

Barry believes what has been missing in the industry is more connectivity and communication at the client level, and that is what he wants to restore.

With more than two decades of experience across insurance, finance and advisory, Barry brings a broad perspective on how organizations approach risk and growth. He has advised C-suite executives and boards on enterprise risk strategy, helping connect risk decisions to capital allocation, operational priorities and long-term performance. His experience spans building and scaling business verticals within large commercial insurance organizations.

He brings that experience to Howden’s growing US commercial insurance platform, built on senior expertise, entrepreneurial leadership, and access to global specialty markets. His focus is on developing talent, reinforcing collaboration and ensuring that growth enhances client outcomes and long-term relationships.

Leading legal and regulatory strategy for Howden’s commercial broking and advisory business, Chris takes a straightforward approach: legal should enable ambition, not constrain it.

With more than 25 years in the global insurance industry, including two decades in senior leadership roles, Chris specializes in building scalable legal frameworks that accelerate disciplined growth. By navigating shifting legal frameworks and leading through regulatory complexity in emerging markets, he has demonstrated that disciplined legal thinking can unlock innovation rather than hold it back.

A member of the New York Bar since 1995, he holds a JD from Syracuse University College of Law and is based in Miami.

Colleen plays a central role in shaping Howden’s expansion in the US market — traditionally defined by consolidation and limited choice — by delivering a bold alternative for clients and entrepreneurial talent.

With more than 20 years of experience spanning global enterprise, public policy, and social impact, Colleen brings a track record of building high-impact brands, translating complex issues into clear, credible narratives that build trust with stakeholders and strengthen institutional reputations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Nevada–Las Vegas and has studied at the Universidad del País Vasco.

David is a key architect of Howden’s growth as a senior-led, employee-owned option in the global insurance market: overseeing a multibillion-dollar M&A pipeline while strengthening the infrastructure that allows entrepreneurial leaders to build with confidence.

With more than 30 years of experience across broking, underwriting, and risk management, he specializes in complex risk and capital solutions that help clients move forward when the stakes are high, and the path is not straightforward.

Deeply committed to reinforcing Howden’s employee-ownership culture, David ensures leaders are empowered to think like owners, act decisively, and stay close to their clients — building the conditions for talented people to do their best work.

Mark is responsible for attracting, integrating, and empowering the entrepreneurial aleaders who are driving our growth in the US. He builds environments where talented people can do their best work: where accountability builds trust, collaboration unlocks collective power, and ownership fuels long-term thinking.

With more than 30 years of talent management experience, Mark began his career in American manufacturing, leading complex labor relations and multi-state workforce operations — a grounding that has given him a pragmatic, plainspoken perspective on leadership, retention, and the realities of building resilient organizations. His approach reflects the belief that when you put people first, performance follows.

Matt connects strategy to execution by designing the systems, processes, and technology that allow exceptional brokers to focus on what matters most: their clients. His focus is on removing unnecessary complexity, creating clarity, and giving leaders tools to build lasting client relationships.

Before joining Howden, Matt spent 14 years leading regional strategic planning and operational transformation at a global broking firm. Grounded in accountability and measurable outcomes, he takes the view that strategy only matters if it delivers results for clients and fuels long-term growth.

Matt holds an MBA in finance from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.

Michael serves as Vice Chairman of Howden US where he plays a central role in shaping expansion across the national commercial insurance platform. He works closely with senior leadership to strengthen market presence, build capability and ensure growth is aligned with long-term client and business outcomes.

With more than three decades of experience in the insurance industry, Michael has led large-scale commercial broking businesses across the United States. He brings deep expertise in building organizations that combine operational discipline with strong client relationships and is recognized for his ability to scale complex businesses while maintaining excellence in execution.

Michael is focused on advancing a commercial insurance business in the US defined by talent, expertise and global connectivity. He is committed to ensuring that growth enhances capability, expands access to markets and reinforces a model centered on long-term partnerships and trusted advice.

Rob builds commercially focused finance teams that help clients manage complex risks with confidence. With over 25 years in senior leadership roles within global insurance and financial services firms, he has deep experience in scaling complex businesses across regions and regulatory environments — as well as a broad perspective on regulation, market cycles and risk management.

Combining rigor with approachability, Rob prioritizes plainspoken communication and commercial literacy to ensure brokers, specialists, and support teams understand not just the numbers, but also the story behind them. Aligning capital allocation with client need and talent investment, he helps create an environment where great people can do their best work, and where clients benefit from stability as well as innovation.

Rob is a commercial insurance leader with more than 30 years of experience advising clients in complex and volatile risk environments. Based in South Florida, he has built his career in one of the country’s most demanding markets.

Clients rely on Rob for calm, disciplined leadership when conditions are difficult. He has worked through nearly every type of market cycle, claim scenario and coverage dispute, and he is known for staying focused on solutions when stakes are high. He approaches each placement with persistence and care, working to secure the strongest possible outcome while keeping client priorities at the center of the process.

Rob brings a people-first leadership style to his work. He builds teams by removing barriers, involving the right specialists and creating an environment where talented professionals can do their best work. He is known for giving credit freely, supporting collaboration and ensuring clients have direct access to the expertise they need.

He brings that experience to a growing commercial insurance platform in the US built on senior talent, strong market connectivity and global specialty access. His focus is on helping clients make confident decisions, strengthening long-term relationships and supporting teams built for disciplined execution.

Adam Lickstein leads the team for Howden Private Capital in the USA, overseeing a dynamic group that drives due diligence in property and casualty and health and benefits, as well as the P&C brokering. Under Adam's leadership, the team also includes dedicated service professionals who excel in consulting for private equity funds and their platform companies, ensuring seamless insurance solutions for clients navigating complex transactions.

Adam's career began at All Risks, where he honed his skills as a wholesale underwriter, directly handling deals and gaining invaluable experience in underwriting. He then spent time at Aon, concentrating on the middle market private equity sector, and followed that with his time at Marsh, where his focus expanded to middle and large market private equity, private credit, family offices, and real estate transactions.

Adam graduated from the University of Florida with a master’s degree in finance and a minor in marketing. He is actively involved in several local charities, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Make‑A‑Wish, and Autism Speaks.

Outside of work, Adam enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons and daughter. Weekends often find them playing sports, visiting the beach, or attending local sporting events together.

A third-generation maritime professional, Baxter leads a senior team of specialists focused on restoring accountability, technical depth, and long-term partnership to the maritime insurance market.

With over two decades of marine insurance experience, Baxter combines operational insight with strategic risk expertise to deliver accountable, claims-focused solutions which reflect the realities that clients face. He’s recognized for developing innovative risk-transfer solutions, including multi-year counterparty credit programs and integrated coverage structures for dredging and marine infrastructure contractors. His long-term partnership approach aligns carriers, capital, and client objectives to deliver durable, resilient outcomes in a volatile marketplace.

Ben brings more than 30 years’ experience in the industry and plays a pivotal role in expanding our US Health & Benefits team, and supporting the growth of our operations in Tennessee and the Mid-South region.

He began his career at Unum Life Insurance, quickly earning promotions and national honors, and launching Unum’s Nashville office.

In 2007, Ben founded The Hanback Group, an independent insurance consulting firm. His entrepreneurial leadership earned him the Nashville Emerging Leader Award and the firm was a multi-year finalist for Nashville Business Journal’s Best in Business Awards.

After Regions Financial acquired his firm, he joined Aon as Resident Managing Director and Tennessee Market Leader, overseeing Risk and Health operations. Under his leadership, the Tennessee team quadrupled revenue and clients, winning the New Logo Award and Office of the Year.

Beyond his corporate success, Ben is deeply involved in community service. He co-chaired Kevin Carter’s Waiting for Wishes charity event, coached youth soccer, and served on boards for Make-A-Wish, Miriam’s Promise and Second Harvest Food Bank.

A frequent speaker and thought leader, Ben has appeared several times on Fox News and Fox Business as a healthcare commentator and was a contributing columnist for The Tennessean.

Carol is building a senior-led casualty platform that delivers global reach with local accountability. With more than 30 years of experience, including over 30 legacy liability transactions, she specializes in complex casualty solutions, loss portfolio transfers, and strategic collateral design. Her focus is always practical: helping clients move forward not just with coverage, but with confidence.

A 10-time Risk & Insurance Power Broker and a Business Insurance “Woman to Watch,” Carol is a committed mentor and advocate for intentional inclusion. She serves on the boards of Chicago Lights and the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, reflecting her long-standing commitment to education and youth empowerment.

Over more than 15 years working at the intersection of commercial real estate and risk management, Danielle has built a reputation for connecting insurance strategy directly to financial performance. Her philosophy is straightforward: insurance should be a strategic advantage, not a transactional afterthought. She works closely with owners, operators, lenders and investors to ensure insurance decisions protect and enhance net operating income, support capital markets activity and preserve long-term asset value.

Danielle is an expert in alternative risk transfer strategies, liability restructuring, and emerging exposures driven by climate volatility and social inflation, and she’s a frequent commentator on CNBC and Bloomberg. Danielle is an active member of the Urban Land Institute and the CRE Finance Council.

David leads the Private Capital Group, overseeing practice management and strategic growth.

He and his team work with leading financial sponsors and strategic clients across a broad range of sectors, supporting transactions from $5m to $18bn in enterprise value. A recognized thought leader in M&A insurance, David speaks regularly at industry events on market trends and best practices.

David was previously a Founding Partner and CEO of Atlantic Group, acquired by Howden in February 2026. Prior to Atlantic, he served as Head of North American Transactions at Howden M&A, where he advised financial sponsors and corporates on inbound, outbound, and intra-North American deals. He began his career in the energy sector as a project engineer across oil & gas and defense.

David holds a master's degree in Chemistry from the University of Durham. Outside of work, he plays rugby for the New York Athletic Club and enjoys skiing, hiking, and swimming.

Don joined Howden in December 2025 to lead our US Middle Market team. His customer-centric approach and focus on top and bottom-line growth, along with his intense commitment to the lives, careers and wellbeing of his colleagues have created an energy that drives our business to great success.

Don’s personal interests are first and foremost his family, friends, and colleagues, all of whom he considers to be friends. He also enjoys working out, golfing, boating, reading and jigsaw puzzles. Don resides in Laconia, NH, Bedford, MA, and Naples FL with his wife, Kelly. He has a daughter who is a teacher and a son who is a Howden producer in the Boston area.

Don graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.

Elizabeth Neumann is an Executive Vice President at Howden US and leads our Financial Lines Claims. Based in New York, she specializes in Directors’ and Officers’ liability, Cyber liability, Financial Institution E&O liability and Private Equity Sponsor liability.

She advises clients on the claims management process, overseeing the design and execution of industry leading insurance recovery strategies that leverage merit-based coverage arguments as well as senior level carrier relationships within both claim and underwriting.

Elizabeth brings over 20 years of insurance experience having served most recently as the Head of Financial Lines Claims at CAC and, prior to that, as a senior attorney at AXIS and CNA.

Gerard (Jerry) serves as Chairman of Professional Services for Howden U.S., where he focuses on delivering specialized insurance and risk management solutions to law firms, accounting firms, consulting firms, design firms and other professional organizations.

With more than 30 years of experience as an insurance broker, Jerry brings deep expertise in professional indemnity coverage and a broad understanding of most major lines of insurance coverage. Prior to joining Howden US, he served as an independent consultant and held senior roles at Aon, including Co-Leader of Global Specialty Practices and CEO of the Global Professional Services Practice.

Jerry has held leadership roles spanning production, placement and client relationship management in addition to oversight of claims, risk management and actuarial services. He is known for his strategic insights, collaborative approach, and commitment to helping clients navigate complex risk issues.

A visionary leader with over 30 years at the forefront of healthcare risk management and strategic insurance advisory, Giselle currently serves as Vice Chairman and Executive Managing Director at Howden and as a member of the Executive Committee, where she helps shape the future of healthcare and education risk solutions.

Based in Miami, Florida, she brings deep expertise in navigating complex portfolios, pioneering alternative risk strategies and forging enduring partnerships with clients across the industry.

She has led transformative initiatives in medical malpractice, captives and risk retention groups; built and scaled teams; driven innovation; and consistently delivered results that redefine industry standards.

Giselle blends academic precision with real-world insight to develop tailored solutions for healthcare organizations facing today’s toughest challenges. Her leadership style is confident yet collaborative, rooted in data and focused on sustainable growth—with a passion for mentoring talent and driving meaningful change.

Janette leads market strategy and carrier engagement across the US commercial insurance platform. She works closely with brokers, underwriters and clients to ensure access to capacity, clarity in placement and disciplined execution in complex risk environments.

Prior to joining Howden, Janette held senior leadership roles within large global commercial insurance organizations, where she led regional operations, developed client service strategies and remained actively involved in complex client engagements.

She specializes in financial lines, including Directors and Officers Liability, Fiduciary Liability, Employment Practices Liability, Crime, and Kidnap and Ransom. Clients and colleagues rely on her for practical judgment, strong market relationships and the ability to navigate evolving underwriting conditions with confidence.

Janette’s focus is on ensuring that clients and brokers benefit from a disciplined placement strategy, trusted relationships and direct access to decision-makers across the market. By strengthening relationships across carriers and specialty markets, she helps ensure consistent execution and access to solutions that support long-term client outcomes.

She is actively involved in her community, serving as a board member of Chemo Noir and supporting organizations focused on individuals and families navigating serious health challenges.

Jared serves as the Environmental Transaction Leader at Howden US, where he and his team create tailored environmental insurance solutions for all of Howden’s clients. With more than twenty years in environmental risk management and insurance, Jared brings a wealth of expertise to his role. His career includes experience in the environmental insurance branches of Marsh, WTW, and NFP, and he was formerly the Regional Environmental Risk Officer for Santander Bank’s Multi-family Specialty Lending Unit before transitioning into insurance.

Jared has also worked with the NYC Department of City Planning and several environmental consulting firms based in New York City. He stays engaged in industry initiatives as an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Environmental Committee and PFAS Task Force.

Before moving to Florida, Jared dedicated over seventeen years as a volunteer firefighter with the Hewlett Fire Department. His commitment to public service and the analytical skills fostered by firefighting continue to influence how he prioritizes and responds to client needs within the insurance sector.

Joe leads the national strategy for delivering tailored, high-touch insurance solutions to affluent and high-net-worth individuals, families, and family offices. He oversees business development, carrier partnerships, and service excellence, ensuring clients receive the most innovative, proactive risk management strategies in the market.

With more than 20 years of leadership in insurance brokerage and financial management, Joe has built trusted, long-standing relationships with top insurance carriers and senior executives across the private client, personal lines, and small commercial segments. These partnerships have been instrumental in creating bespoke solutions and strategic alliances for complex client needs.

Prior to joining Howden, Joe led Liberty Companies’ Select Division as President, managing over 250 team members serving tens of thousands of clients in 41 states. Earlier, he spent seven years at Aon Private Risk Management, driving national growth and strategic partnerships with major organizations including professional sports leagues, investment banks, private equity firms, and hedge funds. He also served as Senior Vice President of Personal Lines at Willis, and Agency Manager at one of Nationwide’s top-performing agencies.

A Philadelphia native, Joe served two years of active duty aboard the USS Tarawa and six years in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He studied at Penn State and Temple University, where he has also been a guest lecturer.

Joe and his wife, Lynn, split their time between the Philadelphia suburbs and Ocala, Florida. They are proud parents of three adult children and co-founders of the EBOD Foundation, which supports dementia and Alzheimer’s research, veterans, and underserved youth. Joe also serves on two nonprofit boards focused on education and children’s initiatives.

John leads Howden’s Sports and Entertainment practice in the US. He is a recognized expert in event cancellation and non-appearance insurance, advising on complex risks for many of the world’s top-performing artists and touring acts, live-event organizers, talent agencies, and record labels.

With more than 20 years of experience, John is known for a relationship-driven approach that prioritizes senior accountability and continuity. He began his career in Nashville, where he developed insurance solutions that allowed touring artists to invest in large-scale productions with greater financial confidence.

At Howden, Tomlinson combines boutique service with global scale. He works closely with sports and entertainment clients to deliver tailored solutions and connect them with specialized expertise and insurance capacity. His work reflects Howden’s people-first model, bringing clients direct access to experienced leaders backed by a global network.

Tomlinson’s insights have been featured in Rolling Stone and The Hollywood Reporter. He is known for helping clients navigate evolving risks, including terrorism exposure, weather disruption, and mental health-related non-appearance, with a focus on practical solutions and clear accountability.

Named by Variety Magazine as a “Hollywood New Leader”, John is widely recognized as one of the industry’s most dynamic experts in Event Cancellation and Non-Appearance insurance for major global events.

Julie advises complex organizations facing operational, financial, and reputational risk. clients rely on her for disciplined execution and direct senior accountability in high-visibility environments. Working directly with executive leadership teams to align insurance strategy with balance sheet performance, claims outcomes, and long-term resilience, her approach is grounded in over 25 years of practical, multi-sector experience and a claims-centered strategy.

An advocate for professional development and gender equity, Julie is an Associate in Risk Management, and a Chief Founding Member and Board Member of the Alliance for Women in Workers’ Compensation. She is a frequent keynote speaker at industry forums, speaking on modernizing claims management through data and technology.

Mark leads the Howden U.S. Construction Team and brings over three decades of legal and insurance industry experience.

Mark and his team provide risk management consulting services for Construction firms, Architects, Engineers, Developers and Owners. The Howden Construction team provides services and expertise across a variety of disciplines including Casualty, Builders Risk, Surety, Professional, SDI and Environmental.

In addition to leading the team, Mark assists clients with negotiating complex construction projects and is experienced with the full spectrum of contractual models used to deliver these assets.

Prior to joining Howden, Mark led a Professional Liability team at a competing broker, providing guidance on professional liability risks and consultive services to clients when claims or coverage issues arose. He is particularly adept at guiding firms through the legal and liability challenges inherent in large-scale construction projects.

Earlier in his career, Mark was a partner at Stinson Leonard Street LLP in Omaha, Nebraska, and a shareholder at Koley Jessen P.C., where he built a national litigation practice focused on intellectual property, construction, engineering, and professional liability disputes.

Michael is a Managing Director at Howden US and Co-Leader of the firm’s Real Estate Practice, where he advises institutional real estate owners, operators, developers, and investors on complex risk management and insurance strategies. With 18 years of industry experience, Michael specializes in structuring comprehensive insurance programs for large and diverse real estate portfolios across the United States. Michael believes insurance should support a real estate strategy — not get in the way of it.

Before joining Howden, Michael held senior roles at global brokerage firms Aon and Marsh, where he developed deep expertise in property and casualty insurance, risk financing, and portfolio-level risk advisory for real estate clients. Throughout his career, he has partnered with clients to design innovative solutions that protect assets, support growth, and improve capital efficiency.

At Howden, Michael works closely with clients to navigate an increasingly complex insurance marketplace while delivering strategic insight and tailored coverage solutions. Michael is known for his relentless advocacy on behalf of clients. He’s the person in the room asking the detailed questions others miss — how insurance impacts financing, how lender requirements can be modernized, and how risk can be structured more intelligently across a portfolio.

Michael approaches every assignment with the mindset of an owner: understand the deal, protect the downside, and remove obstacles that stand in the way of performance.

Michael graduated from Tulane University with a degree in Finance. Michael enjoys spending his free time with his wife and two children on the courts and fields, staying active together as a family. He also values being involved in the community and contributing to people and organizations around him.

Based in New York, Miguel leads a specialist advisory practice serving accounting, consulting, and professional services firms facing complex and evolving risk exposures. He advises on professional liability, management liability, and cyber risk, and he helps clients respond to social inflation, regulatory scrutiny, and emerging risks such as those linked to generative AI.

Miguel has more than 25 years of experience across audit and global insurance brokerage, and he takes a senior-led, claims-focused approach and supports clients operating across domestic and international markets. He evaluates risk through a financial, operational, and governance lens, with a clear understanding of the internal controls and professional standards that define leading global firms.

Mike advises employers on complex plan design, self-funded strategies and cost transparency, helping them to strengthen workforce health while protecting long-term financial performance.

With over two decades in employee benefits consulting, Mike has advised organizations through some of the most complex and volatile periods in US healthcare. He helps clients redesign programs that incentivize high-value care, improve transparency, and strengthen financial resilience — moving them beyond incremental cost containment toward long-term sustainability. His expertise spans complex plan design, technical underwriting, advanced funding strategies, and transitioning from fully insured to self-funded models.

Mike has been cited in publications including Employee Benefit News and Business Insurance for his insights on healthcare reform and market dynamics.

Nancy is a senior insurance executive with more than three decades of experience specializing in superyacht risk management and insurance. She joined Howden Superyachts in 2026, bringing deep technical expertise and a long track record of advising owners, managers, and related stakeholders on complex, high‑value maritime risks through ownership, construction, refit, and operational phases.

Nancy joined Howden from another global insurance broker where she was responsible for building a specialist team. Together, they positioned the brand as a leading global advisor in the superyacht sector.

Nancy has served on the International Superyacht Society (ISS) Board and is a frequent speaker at industry events in the United States and internationally. She is based in South Florida and continues to work extensively within the global superyacht community.

Richard joined Howden US as Vice Chairman & Head of Houston office in August of 2025.

Richard was Chairman of Wortham Insurance when the firm was acquired by Marsh USA, Inc. in 2018. During Richard’s 7 years with Marsh, he served in various senior leadership positions including CEO of Marsh Wortham, South Central Zone leader and Chairman of US Energy Marsh Specialty.

Richard joined Wortham in 1993 as a partner. He became vice chairman of Wortham in 2006 and was elected chairman in 2013. Prior to joining Wortham, he was senior vice president of J.H. Blades & Co., Inc. a wholesaler / cover holder specializing in energy insurance. He started his insurance career in 1982 with the Hartford Insurance Group as a Casualty underwriter and in 1984 he spent a year working in London for a Lloyds’s broker.

He is a former board member of the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, and he received the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation Southeast Philanthropic leadership award in 2020.

Richard has been a speaker at various conferences including AEGIS PHC, Energy Insurance Americas, IRMI Energy Risk and Pipeline Insurance Managers Conference. Richard served as Chairman of the Houston Marine Insurance Seminar in 2001 and 2002. He was named a Power Broker by Risk & Insurance Magazine in the Energy category in 2006 and 2009 and in the Utility category in 2007.

Richard has a BBA from the University of Texas majoring in Finance and Insurance. He has also earned the Chartered Property and Casualty designation and the Everen technical accreditation.

Richard is a senior leader of the Private Capital Group, leading strategic growth and business development.

Richard is a highly experienced transactional insurance broker, representing private equity sponsors and S&P 500 companies on transactions ranging up to $18bn in enterprise value. Richard's diverse portfolio of representative transactions is reflective of his ability to create innovative, strategic solutions for complex issues across a variety of sectors.

Richard was previously a Founding Partner of Atlantic Group, acquired by Howden in February 2026. Under his leadership, Atlantic established itself as a leading specialist insurance adviser and trusted transaction partner.

Prior to Atlantic, Richard founded and built a Howden M&A insurance team that has grown into Europe's largest M&A insurance broker.

He holds a degree in Economics with honors from the University of Bristol. Outside of work, Richard enjoys skiing, paragliding, and kiteboarding.

Based in New York City, Ron leads the expansion of Howden’s financial lines services across directors and officers liability (D&O), errors and omissions liability (E&O), cyber liability, fiduciary liability and financial institutions. He is focused on delivering specialist expertise, hands-on leadership and long-term accountability to middle-market and complex clients navigating an increasingly volatile risk environment.

With more than 20 years of experience, Ron has built his career advising financial institutions, asset managers, private equity firms and multinational organizations on their most complex and high-stakes exposures. He is known for combining deep technical expertise with commercial pragmatism by structuring coverage in new ways, negotiating from a position of strength and protecting clients through shifting insurance and regulatory cycles.

Ron remains actively involved with clients while building and mentoring high-performing teams.

Before joining Howden, Ron spent more than 20 years in senior leadership roles, advising multinational clients through periods of regulatory scrutiny, market disruptions, and organizational changes, while guiding global organizations on complex risks, governance, and strategic challenges.

At Howden, Ron is part of a talent-led expansion built on employee ownership and an owner’s mindset. He is focused on creating a financial lines business where senior leaders are directly accountable to clients and invested in the long-term success of the platform they are building.

Ron was named a 2025 Finance Power Broker by Risk & Insurance. His teams have also been recognized as “Broker Team of the Year” by Business Insurance and “Best Insurance Service Provider” by Hedgeweek in multiple consecutive years.

He holds a B.A. in Finance and Management from the University of Delaware.

Stuart leads the Natural Resources division for Howden US, building a senior-led practice designed to serve clients across the full energy spectrum.

Before joining Howden, Stuart spent more than three decades at a leading U.S. brokerage firm, where he rose to Executive Vice President and advised on some of the most sophisticated energy risk placements in North America. That experience gives him a deep understanding of the operational realities facing power generation, utility infrastructure and industrial businesses today—along with the discipline to navigate market volatility with clarity and precision.

In a brokerage market defined by consolidation and scale, Stuart is focused on restoring direct access to senior expertise. He leads an integrated team that brings together property, casualty, and construction specialists under one coordinated strategy. His goal is straightforward—provide clients with the technical depth and global placement capability they expect, without sacrificing senior involvement or speed of decision-making.

Stuart works closely with leadership teams at Fortune 100 energy companies, independent companies and private equity investors, navigating an increasingly complex risk environment. His experience spans the full energy value chain, from traditional upstream and midstream assets to utility-scale renewables and emerging decarbonization technologies. He is particularly experienced in structuring centralized insurance programs and specialized solutions that align with financing structures, support long-term asset performance, and withstand lender and investor scrutiny.

Stuart’s areas of expertise include effective exposure mapping, understanding energy industry contractual risks, and implementing and developing loss-sensitive and alternative risk strategies. He has multidisciplinary training, placement and experience across property and casualty insurance for the full spectrum of energy industry operations.

As part of an employee-owned business, he remains hands-on with clients, personally engaged in strategy, negotiation and execution. Based in Birmingham, Alabama, Stuart is committed to helping clients move forward with confidence, providing counsel with integrity, supported by global reach and senior-level accountability at every stage.

Toby is a Managing Director, Global Placement with Howden US, where she serves as co-leader of the firm’s National Property Practice. In this role, she is responsible for developing placement strategy and leading the marketing and execution of large, complex property insurance programs for major global and domestic clients.

Toby works closely with clients to analyze exposures, identify key risk drivers, and manuscript bespoke coverage solutions aligned with each organization’s unique risk profile. She leads negotiations across the global property marketplace to secure optimal program structures and outcomes, drawing on deep market relationships and technical expertise.

Prior to joining Howden, Toby was with Marsh, where she was a senior member of the placement team supporting Real Estate, Retail, Healthcare, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, Manufacturing, and Municipal risk management accounts.

She brings more than 30 years of insurance industry experience, having begun her career in Baltimore in 1987 and spending the majority of her career on the brokerage side of the business. Toby later worked in the Washington, DC metro area with global risk management clients and served as the Mid-Atlantic Property Practice Leader for over 13 years. She is recognized as a senior technical resource within Howden’s National Property Practice, specializing in complex property risk analysis, program design, and negotiation.