Howden restructures and realigns data and analytics unit HX

Howden Group Holdings has unveiled a restructure of its many units that deal in data and analytics, collectively known as HX, integrating them into client-facing parts of the business.

The business said the intention is for the capabilities to become closer to its clients. The units affected include Howden Analytics led by David Flandro (pictured).

HX was launched in 2019 to develop the group’s digital, data and analytics platform delivery and accelerate the growth of Howden and DUAL through the use of data, analytics and technology. Since then, it has grown to over 250 staff across 19 teams.

On the back of the changes, Howden Analytics, led by Flandro, and Howden Capital Markets, the Group’s capital markets advisory practice, will join Howden RE. Howden Markets, the team that uses data and insights, will become part of Howden Broking. Toby Pollard, Head of Howden Markets, joins the Howden Broking Group Executive Committee.

Rethink, an algorithmic follow only MGA, led by Dan Prince will join DUAL. Howden Digital, a digital market platform, led by Paul Hillier, will join Howden Specialty. And Howden Data, led by Howden Broking CFO Serge Thieriet, will become part of Howden Broking Group.

David Howden, CEO, Howden Group, said: “As a Group, we made significant investment into our data and digital capabilities over the past few years and today this is increasingly becoming business-as-usual for Howden and DUAL, strategically and operationally, including how we trade with clients and markets. Embedding these core skills back into the business will enable us to take full advantage of the products, skills and unique capabilities we have created in HX, accelerating the creation of innovative solutions for clients.”

Barnaby Rugge-Price, executive chairman, HX and chairman, Howden Broking, added: “Our successes over the past 12 months alone speak for themselves. Nearly $300m of premium is now flowing through our Howden Digital trading platforms including over $75m of exclusive premium delivered to Howden brokers via Rethink, we launched Nova’s market leading platform and a series of widely admired research publications, and our Howden Markets and Data teams worked to develop better data and actionable insights for markets, colleagues and clients.”

He continued: “When we launched HX we knew that expanding our tech, data and analytics capabilities would be critical to our future success. I believed then that the evolution of our industry’s proposition was the most important challenge we faced, and we took that challenge head on. We have spent the three years carefully developing our capabilities, investigating this space and incubating our own start-up ventures while attracting the best talent. These teams, now sitting within the business areas but crucially continuing to work collaboratively, will further drive the creation of new capabilities and enhancement of our existing digital, data and analytics platform delivery.”

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