Leadership team

Chairman

Since co-founding First Central Group in 2008, Mike has led the business through a period of significant growth in a constantly evolving insurance market. 

As Chairman, Mike’s role is to lead the boards across the group to ensure the business is appropriately governed, recognising the interests of all the group’s key stakeholders whether they be policyholders, employees, regulators or investors. 

Before co-founding First Central Group, Mike worked for Amlin and Benfield, and then joined Zenith Insurance in 2002. He was promoted to UK CEO in 2004, and in 2006, Mike left to set up a new Lloyd’s managing agent, Diagonal Underwriting, owned by IAG.

Mike is married with four children, who tend to take up any remaining spare time! However, he's a keen rugby supporter (especially Wasps and England) and occasional (poor) golfer. 

Chief Executive Officer

Having joined First Central Group as Chief Operating Officer in early 2017, Simon was promoted to Group Chief Executive in January 2018. 

In addition to overseeing the development of the group, Simon is responsible for exploring strategic partnerships and collaborations designed to respond to the rapidly changing needs of customers and the industry. 

Before joining us, Simon spent 14 years as Group Head of Operations at Aon Captive & Insurance Management (ACIM), where he led the resolution of operational issues globally.

Outside of work, Simon enjoys ultra-trail running challenges, which he says are both character building and a great way to see spectacular landscapes. 

Chief Financial Officer

John joined First Central Group as Chief Financial Officer in February 2018 and is responsible for ensuring that the business has the financial resources to deliver against its growth aspirations.
 
Previously, John was the Chief Executive Officer at Proxama PLC, leading the strategic direction of the business and driving integration following a number of acquisitions. John has also held positions at Aviva and RAC, where he was responsible for optimising capital through effective investment into new product lines, new initiatives and improving the business cashflow.
 
Outside of work, John’s interests include golf, local causes and ornithology.

Chief Claims Officer

Jonathan joined First Central Group as Chief Claims Officer in April 2018 to deliver the business’s future digital customer claims strategy. In addition to this, he provides leadership on the processes and governance of the group’s claims indemnity spend and reserving. 
 
Before joining us, Jonathan spent 22 years in various roles at Co-operative Insurance. Most notably, he was the Claims General Manager (Director) and set up and executed the claims management strategy for the business.

As a keen gardener and walker, when Jonathan is not at work, he can be found outdoors.
 

Chief Underwriting Officer

Appointed Chief Underwriting Officer of First Central Group in May 2018 and Managing Director of Skyfire Insurance in January 2017, Stuart champions the fundamental importance of data and analytics in ensuring the group’s continuous success, which is at the very heart of our business proposition.

Before joining First Central Group in 2012, Stuart enjoyed a successful 20-year insurance industry career, where he cultivated his transformational pricing techniques.

Stuart has lived in Gibraltar since 2016 and is enjoying the sun and the Spanish way of life, in particular, the tapas!

Chief Commercial Officer

Andy joined First Central Group as Marketing Director in September 2012 and assumed additional responsibility as CEO of 1^ST CENTRAL, our motor insurance broker, in 2013. 

Having firmly established 1^ST CENTRAL as a top 10 supplier in the UK motor aggregator market, Andy was appointed to the role of Chief Commercial Officer in 2018, to accelerate growth in an ever-evolving insurance marketplace. He also sits on the BIBA Motor panel on behalf of 1^ST CENTRAL. 

He has over 30 years’ experience in the insurance and financial services market, having previously held positions at Allianz, Aviva and Barclays.

Andy is married and has four children, four grandchildren, four cats, five chickens and a dog, so he likes to escape for time alone on his bike, or indulge in his passion for scuba diving.

Chief Information Officer

John is Chief Information Officer of First Central Group. He joined the company as Group Chief Architect in August 2011 with responsibility for developing the business’s internal technical capabilities, particularly online. His wealth of experience has helped us digitise the traditional back-office insurance functions and build our own, more modern and flexible insurance 'suite'.
 
Prior to joining us, John spent many years developing innovative solutions for insurers and brokers worldwide, in both commercial and personal lines markets.
 
John is based in Guernsey, where he lives with his partner Steph and their three children. When time permits, he enjoys kayaking, cycling or the occasional round of golf.