Howden begins major expansion in the Netherlands with appointment of Jeroen Everling as CEO Netherlands, Corporate

Howden, the international insurance broker, announced today that it will appoint Jeroen Everling as Chief Executive Officer Netherlands, Corporate. He will build a specialist team to bring choice to mid and large domestic and international clients.  Howden already has a leading specialist marine operation with a corporate portfolio in Rotterdam, led by Jan Oosterom.

Everling will join Howden from Willis, where he has held the role of Head of Benelux Corporate Risk and Broking for the last 7 years and chair of the statutory board.  He previously held senior roles with Aon and Marsh, leading teams delivering cross-class solutions for major international, industrial and agricultural clients.

Dolf Balink will also join from Willis, where he has spent the last fifteen years of his career, latterly as Director of Placement and Claims, Netherlands.  Prior to that he spent 13 years with Marsh in claims leadership roles, having begun his career with Sedgwick in 1993.

Commenting on his appointment, Everling said: “After nearly 25 years in this market it is a new beginning for both of us.  The opportunity to build a business with a different outlook is an incredibly exciting one for me and a new dynamic for a market that I love.  Howden’s combination of an empowered culture, a commitment to developing deep specialty capabilities, and international scale mean that we can build a values-led business that is better for corporate clients and a breath of fresh air for talent.  I am looking forward to starting that journey in a Group where there is freedom to thrive.”

José Manuel González, Group CEO, Howden Broking, said: “We set out a clear vision to invest in Europe and become the alternative for talent and clients in the region.  But we are not in a rush.  We know that shared values build long-term value, and we wait for the right time and the right people.  When we met Jeroen we knew he was the right person to build a standout Corporate team in the Netherlands and I look forward to seeing the difference I know he and his team will make to clients.”

Luigi Sturani, CEO Europe, Howden Broking, said: “That Jeroen and Dolf have chosen to join us serves as further confirmation of my belief that Howden is the right platform for those talents who want to do business in an environment where everyone is pulling in the same direction to build something special for each other and our clients; and we are busy enjoying the journey.” 

Jan Oosterom, CEO Netherlands, Marine, added: “I have lived and breathed this market for 33 years, the last eight with Howden building our leading marine business.  I know what we can do here with a different approach and I am delighted to welcome Jeroen and Dolf, who I have grown up alongside in the industry, to help us write our story.” 

Everling’s and Balink’s appointments follow the recent announcements of the appointments of Luigi Sturani, CEO Europe; Enrico Nanni, CCO Europe; Felix Jenny, CEO Switzerland; Holger Schaefer, CEO Germany; the acquisition of Scagliarini and launch of operations in Italy; and the acquisition of Artai in Spain.  They will join Howden subject to fulfilment of their contractual obligations.