International insurance broker, Howden has announced the appointment of Luigi Sturani as chief executive officer, Europe and Enrico Nanni, who joins the business as chief commercial officer, Europe, effective 2 June 2021.
Howden states the appointments reflect the continued expansion and investment for the broking group in Europe, including a wave of more than 300 new joiners in the past 24 months.
In these newly created roles, Sturani will lead a diverse regional management team, supported by Louise Cable-Alexander, CEO, Northern Europe, and Danny Sever, CEO of Howden’s Mediterranean region.
The team will be tasked with providing a credible alternative for clients and talent in the region and will oversee more than 1,400 people across Europe, continuing to build by focusing on talent, the acquisition of culturally aligned businesses, and further investment in technology.
Sturani joins the business from Aon in London after 15 years, where he held the positions of CEO Specialty, EMEA and managing director and head of global property and casualty, crisis management. Prior to that, he served at Willis, where he held the role of managing director.
Additionally, Nanni also joins from Aon where he most recently served as chief commercial officer, specialty, EMEA. He joined Aon from Willis in 2006, where he held a number of senior management positions.
José Manuel González, CEO of Howden Broking Group commented: “We are at a critical juncture in the European market. Clients want choice and we believe, as we always have, that to provide for clients you have to first build a home for talent. And as we enter this battle for talent, experienced leaders like Luigi and Enrico choosing Howden is further proof that 26 years of building a unique, entrepreneurial culture is paying off. I cannot think of a better team of people to deliver on our vision for what is very clearly our heartland.”
Sturani said: “Firstly, I love that Howden wants me to be an entrepreneur in a People First business. They’re not looking for passengers, they’re looking for people who want to build things and that’s honestly unique and incredibly attractive. Secondly, there is a real clarity of vision; we all want to go back to the basics of broking and distribution – a simple, high-quality service for clients and insurance partners – and we have the energy and agility to do it here. The blend of Howden’s European retail platform with its London specialty business is particularly distinctive. It’s a defining moment in the market and there’s no place I’d rather be.”
