Miller announces new head of M&A

Miller has appointed Claire Connolly (pictured above) as head of M&A. She reports to Ben Speers, chief corporate and legal affairs officer.

Connolly has significant experience in M&A, corporate development, and finance in the insurance industry, having held various senior M&A roles at Jensten Group, Aston Lark and Gallagher, where she worked on M&A transactions in multiple regions and oversaw the development of the firms’ M&A strategies.

Miller said Connolly’s appointment is part of its thrust to grow its industry footprint both organically and through strategic M&A transactions, which will allow it to bring its sector specialisms to a greater number of clients.

The appointment follows Miller’s acquisition of Henner Sports in France – later rebranded as Miller Sports & Entertainment, Paris – and Japanese broker Lead Insurance Services last year.

“I’m delighted to welcome Claire to the team as we continue to strengthen our offering and scale the business,” said James Hands, Miller CEO. “Alongside our strong core growth, Claire’s track record in executing M&A transactions within the insurance space will be incredibly valuable, as we look to expand across the UK, Europe and Asia and selectively partner with high-quality, specialist businesses that align with our culture.”

“I’m excited to be joining Miller and have the opportunity to be part of an important component of its growth story,” Connolly said. “Miller has already formed some strong partnerships in 2022, and I’m looking forward to working with the team to further their growth ambitions and explore exciting opportunities that will allow us to get even closer to customers and offer the best products and services to them.”