Howden Capital Markets & Advisory signs up Des Potter as UK Non-Exec

Howden Capital Markets & Advisory (HCMA), the insurance and reinsurance broker’s capital markets and insurance-linked securities (ILS) specialist unit, has appointed Des Potter as an Independent Non-Executive Director for its UK business.

Potter has more than 40 years of experience in reinsurance broking, investment banking, and corporate finance, a significant amount of which has included a focus on insurance-linked securities (ILS).

Potter has also been instrumental in London’s ambitions to bring ILS business to the UK, having worked alongside government and regulators through the development of the UK’s ILS legislation and more recently worked with Lloyd’s as it developed and expanded its third-party capital business through the London Bridge ILS structures.

Des Potter is leading a panel discussion at our upcoming Artemis London 2024 conference on Sept 3rd. Register here to attend.

Potter joins Howden Capital Markets & Advisory at a time when the company has been expanding its activity in catastrophe bonds and other insurance-linked securities (ILS) placements.

Most recently, Potter has been working as a special advisor to Lloyd’s CFO and COO Burkhard Keese, focused on enhancing Lloyd’s capital framework and the instruments available to investors to allocate capital to support underwriting at Lloyd’s.

Before that, Potter spent ten years at reinsurance broker Guy Carpenter and was also a key member of the London Market Group’s ILS taskforce that worked on the development of the UK Risk Transformation legislation.

Prior to which, he held senior management positions at reinsurance broker unit Aon Benfield Securities Ltd. and Benfield Advisory, while the early part of his career was spent in the corporate and investment banking divisions of Barclays Bank.

Jarad Madea, CEO, Howden Capital Markets & Advisory, commented on the news, “We are pleased to welcome Des Potter as a NED in London. His extensive and impressive track record in reinsurance, capital markets, and risk management will be a valuable addition as we continue to drive growth and innovation. We welcome Des’s contribution to further enhance our strategic direction in the UK market.”

Leo Beckham, Howden Capital Markets & Advisory’s Head of UK & Europe, added, “Des’s extensive executive experience and deep insight into the reinsurance sector, particularly in ILS and capital markets, will be invaluable to HCMA. I am looking forward to working with Des again, and we look forward to leveraging his expertise as we continue to grow and develop the business.”

Des Potter, Independent Non-Executive Director, Howden Capital Markets & Advisory, stated, “I am delighted to be joining HCMA UK. I have known the team for many years and have been extremely impressed by the innovative and client focused way the business has developed. I look forward to contributing to its continued success.”