Global insurance and reinsurance broking group Gallagher has announced key leadership changes in its UK & Ireland Retail office network.
Michael McLaverty was appointed as Head of Office for the firm’s Belfast office on 1st January 2026. He succeeds Shane Matthews, who is moving into an Account Director role focused on supporting major clients in Northern Ireland.
In his new role, McLaverty will oversee Gallagher’s 50 colleagues in Belfast, who support businesses across multiple industries in Northern Ireland with their risk management and insurance needs. He will report to Mark Kerry, Regional Managing Director, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
McLaverty brings more than 25 years of industry experience, joining Gallagher in 2022 as an Account Director. Prior to that, he spent 15 years at WTW and began his career at Marsh as an Account Executive.
Kerry commented, “Michael has played an important part of our success delivering consistent client growth and helping the Belfast team achieve record breaking new business sales this year. He will be a fantastic leader for our Northern Ireland operations and having the right people leading our risk professionals in the regions is core to our continued success and I am confident that with Michael at the helm of the business we have a fantastic springboard for continued growth in 2026 and beyond.”
In addition, Gallagher has expanded Mark Holmes’ role to become Managing Director of the Bristol office, alongside his existing responsibilities as Managing Director of the Swindon and Gloucester offices.
Holmes takes on this expanded role following the retirement of Andrew Ferguson, who led Gallagher’s Bristol office for the past nine years, having joined the firm in 2014.
In his new role, Holmes will report to Cheryl Philips, Regional Managing Director, South West.
He has served as Managing Director of the Swindon branch since 2011, when he joined Gallagher through the acquisition of Heath Lambert. In January 2020, he also assumed head of office responsibility for the Gloucester team.
Gallagher noted that its Bristol office is one of the largest in the region, with over 100 professionals offering risk management, insurance, and consulting services to clients. The South West region has seen significant growth, with 12 new locations and over 150 new team members following the AssuredPartners acquisition, which was finalised in August 2025.
The 60+ offices in Gallagher’s UK & Ireland network specialise in the insurance and risk management needs of mid-market organisations and operate within local communities, ensuring they understand the challenges and opportunities facing businesses in the region.
Philips said, “Mark Holmes and I have worked alongside each other for a number of years and I know he is a brilliant operator, able to support colleagues and clients alike and ensure the smooth running of this core part of our regional presence. Making this key leadership appointment from within shows our commitment to career development and the talent we have in Gallagher.”
Gary Fletcher, long-term colleague of Andrew Ferguson and Managing Director of Commercial at Gallagher, commented on Ferguson’s retirement: “Andy and I have worked together for 30 years having joined John Eke and Partners in the mid 90s, which become part of Oval in 2008, and Gallagher in 2014 and I would like to thank him for all the good times over the years and say a very fond farewell as he has been a brilliant colleague to work with, and we wish him all the very best in his retirement.”
