Chairman (Non-Executive)
Appointed Non-Executive Chairman on 1 October 2006. Oliver was formerly Group Finance Director of Barclays Bank plc. His current roles include Chairman of Home Retail Group plc, Deputy Chairman of 3i plc, Non-Executive Director of Standard Chartered Bank plc and Chairman of the Natural History Museum.
Phillip Hodson M.A. (Cantab)
Chief Executive Officer
Appointed Chief Executive Officer on 22 September 2003. A graduate of Cambridge University, Phillip joined the R P Hodson group in 1977, having formerly worked for Anglo America plc in South Africa, and has guided the Oval group to its current level by over-viewing a strategic acquisition policy. Phillip played cricket for Cambridge University and Yorkshire C.C. and rugby for Western Transvaal. He is a member of the MCC Cricket Committee.
Jeff Herdman
Managing Director
Appointed group Managing Director on 8 May 2006, Jeff joined Bland Bankart as Managing Director on 1 June 1999, having formerly worked for Willis as Managing Director of Wales and Regional Managing Director for the Midlands. He has been in the insurance industry for 26 years, having set up his own broking house, which was subsequently acquired by Willis. Jeff played rugby for Swansea, Wales ‘B’ and the Barbarians over a 14-year career and went on to coach Swansea for five years and the Barbarians for a further eight years.
Simon Shaw B.Sc (Hons), A.C.A., M.B.A.
Finance Director
Appointed group Finance Director on 8 May 2006. Simon graduated in Economics from the London School of Economics and gained an MBA from Bradford University School of Management. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant at Coopers & Lybrand and in 1995 joined Provident Financial plc where he held various positions across the group including 4 years as Group Treasurer and 3 years in finance and operational roles on the Board of Provident's motor finance business.
John May M.A. LLB (Cantab)
Non-Executive Director
Appointed Non-Executive Director on 25 November 2003. John is an Executive Director of Caledonia Investments plc. Previously he worked for the Hambros Group for over 20 years where he was an Executive Director of Hambros Bank and Joint Managing Director of Hambro Countrywide. He then ran his own private equity and consultancy business. He is a Non-Executive Director of a number of companies in which Caledonia invests, including British Empire Securities & General Trust plc, Rathbone plc and Begbies Traynor Group plc.
Antony Pinsent
Non-Executive Director
Appointed Non-Executive Chairman on 25 November 2003. Antony has been in the insurance market since 1966 principally in the broking field. He was Chairman of Leslie & Godwin before joining the board of Aon Group Ltd. He left Aon in 1999 and is currently a Non-Executive Director of Sompo Japan Insurance Company of Europe Ltd. He was formerly a Non-Executive Director of Wellington Underwriting plc and Lomond Underwriting plc. He was Chairman of the Lloyd’s Insurance Brokers Committee in 1993 and 1994.
Andrew Brown
Non-Executive Director
Appointed Non-Executive Director on 22 May 2007, with responsibility for the group Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee. Andrew held executive positions with Sterling Guarantee Trust and Sedgwick Group. He was Finance Director and subsequently Joint Chief Executive of Gartmore Investment Management plc and was Finance Director of Hawkpoint Partners Limited. Andrew is a Chartered Accountant and is Chairman of Numicon Limited and a Non-Executive Director of The Children’s Trust, H & T Group plc and Thames River Capital (UK) Limited.