Ken Randall to step down from R&Q; successor revealed

Insurance services and investment company Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings' (R&Q) co-founder Ken Randall has decided to retire as executive chairman and step down as a director of the company with effect from March 31, 2021.

Randall will be succeeded by William Spiegel, who was appointed as executive director and deputy group chairman as part of the company’s succession plan in January. Spiegel will succeed Randall as executive chairman with effect from April 1, 2021.

Randall co-founded R&Q, a non-life global specialty insurance company, in 1991 alongside Alan Quilter. R&Q recently reported pre-tax profits of over £40 million for the financial year ended December 31, 2019.

Randall said: “Today, the opportunities for R&Q are arguably the greatest since I founded the business with Alan nearly 30 years ago as the significant secular growth in our two core markets, legacy and program management, continues to accelerate. In addition, the strength of the management team we have built gives me great confidence in our ability to capitalise on these opportunities. R&Q has always been a business that combines entrepreneurialism, boldness and innovation and, in William, I am delighted to have identified a successor who encapsulates these values. Since his joining in January I have been deeply impressed with William’s energy, drive and vision, reinforcing my confidence in him as the right individual to take R&Q forward when I retire.

He added: “I am hugely proud of the business R&Q has become, but I will save my thanks and reflections until next April. While, as both a co-founder and major shareholder, this smooth succession gives me great comfort, my focus today remains very much on delivering against the ambitious plans we have.”

Spiegel commented: “It will be a great honour to succeed Ken, a true pioneer and genuine legend in our industry. I look forward to properly celebrating all Ken has achieved in nine months’ time, but in the immediate term I know he would not want to distract focus as we look to build on a record 2019. Ken has been instrumental in creating a unique business in R&Q; I’m excited to accept the challenge and responsibility of building on its culture of success and look forward to continuing to work closely with Ken over the coming nine months to ensure a smooth transition while benefiting from his unrivalled experience."