Howden has named Mike Parrish as CEO of Howden US and Jim Hays as vice-chairman of Howden Group Holdings. 

Parrish is tasked with establishing a US retail broking business. 

He will start at Howden in September, pending the completion of applicable contractual requirements. 

His previous experience includes roles at Aon and Marsh, where he has experience in scaling the US operations effectively. 

Bringing 40 years of US insurance industry experience to the board, Jim Hays was the founder and former CEO of Hays Company. 

He sold the company to Brown & Brown in 2018 and served in positions include vice-chair and board member at Brown & Brown. 

Hays said: “I could not be more energised to join this incredibly exciting, deeply ambitious Group with its army of entrepreneurs dedicated to serving clients.  And of course, to work with David, who is in my view one of the most visionary leaders in business today.”   

Howden has been operational in the US for more than a decade through DUAL, Howden Re and as a wholesale broker for US clients in international markets, handling more than $18bn in US premiums to date. 

Howden CEO David Howden stated: “Mike’s appointment is an incredibly important moment in our 30-year history of building a global group with an energetic and entrepreneurial culture, owned by the people who work in it.  In Mike we have found one of insurance’s most outstanding leaders, with an owner’s mindset and an unrivalled track-record, who wants the freedom to build a business that is an alternative home for talent and clients in the US.   

“And in Jim we have one of the most accomplished entrepreneurs in the US, who brings a wealth of experience to the Group Board as we accelerate towards our ambitious 2030 vision.”    

Last month, Howden acquired a 68.3% stake in Holos Holdings, a Japan-headquartered retail insurance broker.