Howden

Howden is a global, employee-owned insurance intermediary founded in 1994. It operates across the full insurance value chain, spanning broking and underwriting, and describes itself as the world's largest independently-owned international retail insurance broker. The group employs more than 23,000 people and serves clients in over 100 countries across 56 markets.

The business is organised around several lines of work. Howden Broking covers retail and specialty insurance broking, including retail expansion in the United States and marine claims services. DUAL is the group's underwriting arm. The group also provides global reinsurance advisory and solutions. Industry areas of activity include retail, specialty and marine insurance, reinsurance, underwriting, and directors and officers (D&O) cover.

Ownership is a defining feature of the company. Around 6,000 employee shareholders hold a 34% stake in the business, and the firm describes a culture in which people think and act like owners, with an emphasis on entrepreneurial thinking, collaboration across an international team, and close client relationships. Howden began in 1994 as a specialist D&O broker with three employees and a dog. Its geographic footprint spans Europe, the United States and markets worldwide.