Former sports star takes corporate leadership role at global broking business

Ardonagh Group, the UK's largest independent insurance broker, has hired a former sports star in a newly created corporate leadership role, where he will work with the group's executive teams, mainly with its subsidiary Arachas, drawing upon his "unique perspective on resilience and strategies for overcoming opposition".

Former Ulster, Ireland and British & Irish Lions captain Rory Best (pictured centre) is joining the Ardonagh Group as director of development.

Best will work closely with David Ross (pictured right), founder and chief executive officer of Ardonagh, and Conor Brennan (pictured left), CEO of both Arachas and Ardonagh Europe, in deepening and building client relationships throughout the world. He will campaign on behalf of the group’s community and charity projects and will be appointed to the board of Ardonagh Community Trust, the Group’s charity.

"Rory will be an influential voice inside our businesses and we very much looking forward to seeing him flourish as a corporate leader," said Ross. "Rory Best is an exceptional man with unique insights into leadership and an acute commercial intelligence. Whilst I have always hugely admired his sporting achievements, it is our shared values, and his unique insight into how teams can work better together that really strike a chord."

Brennan, CEO of Arachas and Ardonagh Europe, added: “We have spent a significant amount of time with Rory this year and he has really got to know the team at Arachas. We have all been hugely impressed with his insight and refreshing observations. It is clear to us all that he can make a big impact within the business; we look forward to learning from him as he learns from us.”

Best is one of the most successful rugby players, having earned 124 caps for Ireland, from his debut in 2005 to his retirement at the end of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, his fourth World Cup. He played for Ulster from 2004 to 2019 and for Ireland from 2005 to 2019, as well as touring with the British and Irish Lions in 2013 and 2017.

Since retiring Best has predominantly focused on his charitable endeavours and is a passionate philanthropist, the broker said. He will lend his voice to work with Ardonagh in support of mental health awareness and other issues affecting young people.

Commenting on his new role, Best said: “I am very excited about my first major role since retirement, and the real beginning of the second phase of my career. Since I retired two years ago, I have examined many opportunities and wanted to make sure I was making a real difference in whatever I pursued. Coming from a farming family, I have long understood the importance of insurance to protect business owners.

"David and Conor have built truly world-class businesses and when they approached me about a role at Ardonagh and at Arachas, I was confident I could really help, developing  leadership abilities and offering management insight, given my own experience leading ambitious teams. Ardonagh’s deep support for the communities it operates in is personally important to me and aligned to my ambition to positively impact lives and livelihoods wherever possible.”

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