Privately-owned US insurance broker Lockton has announced a major expansion of its Birmingham office.

It has promoted Garry Moseley to managing partner for the Birmingham office covering the whole of the Midlands and has appointed leading businessman Trevor Foster as regional chairman.

The dual announcement comes as Lockton aims to grow its presence in the Midlands while globally looking to build on its reputation as the world’s largest privately-owned broker.

Chris Brown, executive chairman of Lockton Retail, said: “These appointments will enable Lockton to continue to build our business and reputation in the Midlands. Our focus is on delivering great client service and both Garry and Trevor will continue to drive and enhance this strategy. I am delighted they are leading our business in this key area of the country.”

The Birmingham office has a total of 33 staff and is based at Bank House, Cherry Street.

The group employs more than 1,200 people in the UK.

Mr Moseley said: “Trevor is a well-known and respected business leader in the Midlands and he is a great addition to our team.

“We are looking to continue our growth through our entrepreneurial culture and our passion for client service in the community in which we operate. Trevor’s undoubted business acumen will be an invaluable asset and will give us a business view from outside the insurance sector. Our combined efforts will drive the business forward.”

Mr Foster, one of Birmingham’s best known bankers, said: “I am thrilled to be joining Lockton.

“It is another example of an international firm targeting Birmingham as a regional centre and looking to develop.

“That is brilliant for Birmingham particularly at such a difficult economic time.

“Lockton is still essentially a ‘family’ business and so is able to focus on customers rather than the pressures of the stock market.

“I am looking forward to working with Garry to take Lockton to the next level.”

Mr Foster was most recently managing director of Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander’s banking division, and has been 33 years in the industry.

He is a former regional head of corporate banking for HBOS in the Midlands and East Anglia and was with Barclays in earlier years.
His Birmingham connections are strong – he is a non-executive director of Marketing Birmingham and has just completed a three-year term of office as a director of professional services lobbying group Birmingham Forward.

He was recently appointed non-executive chairman of Bigwood, the region’s largest auction house and long established chartered surveyors.

Mr Moseley is one of three partners in Birmingham with Nick Hodgson and Ray Pickford.

He worked for Barclays Insurance Services, which was where he first came to know Mr Foster. He then joined Alexander Forbes
International Risk Services, which in 2006 was taken over by Lockton.

In the Midlands Lockton has a strong client base and has particular strength in the food, retail and healthcare sectors.
Jim McCarthy, chief executive of Poundland, a Lockton client, said: “I was delighted to hear the news of Garry’s appointment and that Trevor was joining the board. I have known Garry and Trevor for many years and their advice and support in their respective areas of expertise has been of great value. I very much look forward to their continued success and their assistance in helping Poundland to deliver amazing value.”

Lockton is in the top ten of global insurance brokers, with revenues of $790 million (£537 million) and more than 3,800 associates.
The company, founded by Jack Lockton in 1966, has a presence on four continents and in major cities throughout the US, UK, Ireland, Latin America, and Asia.

There are 46 offices worldwide including ten in the UK.