Global insurance and reinsurance broker Marsh has established a dedicated Sport, Entertainment & Media (SEM) industry group in the UK & Ireland, led by global events specialist, Richard Tolley.
The new group brings together more than 60 client management, technical, placement and risk management specialists from across Marsh to support the broker’s SEM industry clients in mitigating their exposures.
Tolley takes overall leadership for the development of the firm’s proposition for SEM entities in the UK & Ireland, and joins Marsh’s Industry leadership team. He first joined Marsh in 1995 and as well as his new responsibilities, will retain his position as Deputy Leader, Global Sports & Events. Tolley reports to Charles Beresford-Davies, Head of Industries, UK & Ireland.
Additionally, Edel Ryan, formerly Head of Media & Entertainment at JLT Specialty, has been named as Head of Strategic Business Development for the SEM industry group. In her new role, Ryan will deliver the group’s collective expertise and evolving dedicated client solutions.
Alongside Tolley and Ryan, Marsh has revealed that Steve McGuinness, previously Managing Director of Bluefin Sport, becomes Head of Sport, UK & Ireland, within the group. He brings more than 30 years of insurance broking experience to the firm, and is one of the founding members of The British Association for Sport and Law. As well as his new responsibilities, McGuinness will continue to lead the management of the Bluefin Sport team.
Beresford-Davies commented: “The impact of COVID-19 on the sports, entertainment and media industries clearly presents great challenges for our clients. The formation of Marsh’s SEM industry team will play a key role in expanding the support and breadth of expertise we can offer our clients as we work through this crisis and beyond.”
Tolley added: “The health and wellbeing of staff and the return to the workplace are just some of the issues associated with COVID-19 and one of the many increasingly complex risks that sports, entertainment and media organisations now face. I look forward to leading the industry group, providing solutions that enable our SEM clients to adapt and thrive in this rapidly evolving risk landscape.”
