Howden CAP strengthens Surety proposition with three banking hires

London, 18 May 2023 – Howden, the international insurance broker, today announces three new senior hires to Howden CAP’s Surety division with the addition of Kevin Barrett, Patrick Shields, and Warren Withfield, each based in London.

These appointments demonstrate Howden CAP’s continuing strategy to recruit specialist talent from beyond the insurance industry, enabling it to build a market-leading capital and insurance solutions advisory proposition for its FIG and corporate clients.

Withfield, a loan market specialist, has over 20 years’ experience and joins from MUFG Securities where he spent 17 years in its syndications origination team. At Howden CAP, he will establish a dedicated global syndication desk supporting corporate clients and banks with bank-surety syndication transactions.

Barrett, a senior investment and coverage banker with over 20 years’ experience and extensive financial institution relationships, most recently held the position of Head of Distribution & Syndication at Moore South Africa. Barrett will play a leading role in building out structures, solutions and relationships for surety clients operating in developing markets, with a key focus across Africa.

Shields, a senior FIG and investment banker with over 30 years’ experience across capital markets and insurance banking, will support in the creation of a dedicated bank fronting desk in order to support clients’ bank guarantee and SBLC requirements globally, as well as assisting partner sureties and partner brokers.

Mary O’Connor, Chief Executive Officer, Howden CAP said: “The arrival of Kevin, Patrick and Warren is a clear demonstration of our intention to enhance our market-leading surety proposition and strengthen our capabilities in this sector. Their experience will complement our offering in trade credit and structured credit, whilst adding additional expertise that can help our clients find answers to the most complex requirements.”  

James Souter, Head of Surety, Howden CAP, added: We are delighted to welcome Kevin, Patrick and Warren at such a pivotal time for Howden CAP and the wider industry. Our significant growth plans are built around supporting our clients and the over-arching global trends towards the increased usage of surety market capacity and capability especially for global needs where traditionally the banks have been the main capital source. The arrival of three senior bankers and the establishment of dedicated specialist desks signifies our intention to position Howden CAP to provide unique and ground breaking solutions to our clients globally, in conjunction with our core banking partners.

We will be continuing to invest in specialist sector-related expertise, as well as dedicated local international expertise.”