Who are we?
Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 23,000 employees spanning over 56 countries.
People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.
About the role
We’re looking for a commercially sharp, digitally minded Head of Commercial to lead growth across Tilt (part of Howden), our Personal Lines and SME insurance business.
Tilt is a modern, digital-first broker built to remove friction from insurance. We use technology, automation and AI to make buying, managing and understanding insurance simple, fast and self-service. Our ambition is to build one of the UK’s most customer-centric insurance platforms for small businesses and individuals.
This is a senior leadership role with real ownership. You’ll set and execute Tilt’s commercial strategy, shape how we trade with insurers and partners, and play a key role in scaling the business profitably. You’ll balance innovation and pace with strong governance and FCA-compliant delivery.
What you’ll be responsible for
· Own and deliver Tilt’s commercial strategy in line with our growth plans and product roadmap
· Identify and develop new trading opportunities, distribution models and commercial propositions
· Lead and develop the Commercial team, setting clear KPIs and accountability
· Build strong, modern trading relationships with insurers, aggregators and strategic partners
· Negotiate capacity, pricing structures and commissions to support profitable scale
· Work closely with Product, Tech, Marketing and Operations to align trading with customer journeys
· Drive data-led trading decisions, performance tracking and capacity optimisation
· Monitor market, competitor and regulatory developments and translate insight into action
· Ensure strong FCA, GDPR and internal governance compliance across all commercial activity
· Own commercial budgets, forecasts and performance reporting
· Build a high-performance, collaborative team culture aligned to Tilt’s pace and ambition
About you
You’re commercially driven, comfortable with ambiguity, and happy operating at pace. You combine strategic thinking with a willingness to get hands-on when needed.
You’ll likely have:
· Senior commercial leadership experience within insurance broking or underwriting
· A strong track record managing insurer relationships, capacity and distribution models
· Experience scaling products or portfolios in growth-focused environments
· Confidence operating in regulated environments without slowing innovation
Skills and strengths
· Deep understanding of UK personal lines and SME insurance markets
· Strong commercial judgement and negotiation capability
· Clear grasp of FCA expectations and risk management
· Data-driven mindset with strong financial and trading acumen
· A leadership style that suits fast-moving, product-led teams
What you’ll get in return
At Tilt, you’ll get meaningful ownership and the opportunity to help build something different.
You’ll be part of a business that values:
· Trying new things and learning quickly
· Moving fast while doing things properly
· Supporting each other through growth and change
· Making insurance genuinely better for customers
Tilt sits within the Howden Group, giving you the backing, credibility and scale of a global organisation, while retaining the autonomy, energy and ambition of a high-growth digital business.
What do we offer in return?
A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:
1. Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new
2. We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges
3. We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond
Reasonable adjustments
We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.
If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.
*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.
Permanent