Acquisition of leading independent broker Reich further builds Howden’s UK footprint

London, 1 March 2023 – Howden, the international insurance broker, today announces the acquisition of Reich Insurance Group, marking a significant step in its expansion in the North West of England.  Reich is one of the top ten independent insurance brokers in the UK, reflecting Howden’s strategy to partner with high quality, culturally aligned companies that deliver knowledge and expertise to its clients.

Reich is a £100m+ GWP business, headquartered in Manchester and servicing UK and international clients, with over 140 employees and a reputation for exceptional client service. Led by Simon Taylor and Danny Lopian, the business offers a full spectrum of insurance solutions for both individuals and businesses, from SMEs to large corporations, with particular specialisms in Property, Construction & Development, as well as Life and Healthcare.

Peter Blanc, Executive Chairman, Howden UK & Ireland, commented: “I’ve known Simon and Danny for many years and have always admired their business. Their reputation is outstanding and their areas of specialism, particularly in real estate and construction as well as healthcare, are completely aligned with Howden. All of our discussions were centred on the future and how the Reich team would fit within the Howden business – and the answer is that it’s a perfect match. I’m really looking forward to meeting all of our new colleagues and welcoming them to the Howden family.”

David Howden, CEO, Howden, added: “Simon is an industry entrepreneur, who for the last 20 years has led Reich to be the success story we see today.  Howden has become the natural home for insurance industry entrepreneurs, both in the UK and across the world, who put their trust in us as they know that our people and our clients are at the heart of everything we do. I am delighted to welcome Simon, Danny and Reich to the Group.”

Simon Taylor, CEO, Reich, shared: “While we have grown to become one of the largest independent brokers in the market, we have been searching for the perfect partner to take us to the next level and we were not prepared to merge until we found that right partner.

“We needed a business that matched our absolute focus on providing the very best to our clients in their search for the right insurance product. In this market, we felt that only one business was the perfect fit, and that was Howden: a hugely successful, ambitious, customer-centric broking giant, large enough to make a major difference in the market but still entirely concentrated on providing the very best service for their clients.

“We look forward to working with Peter, Stuart and the team in continuing the service excellence and growth momentum we have achieved as Reich, within the wider Howden Group. We are very excited by what the future holds.”

Danny Lopian, Director, Reich, added: “We are very excited by this opportunity to come together with Howden, who we see as an ideal fit for our business, our staff and our clients. This will give us the opportunity to provide a greater and broader service to our clients and we look forward to developing our business services to even higher levels.”