Managing Director – Insurance Broking (Hands-On, Equity-Backed New Venture)
Location: Ideally South East England (Hybrid/Flexible)
This is a hands-on, founder-level Managing Director role with full accountability for building and scaling a new insurance broking business from launch through to a potential seven-figure exit.
The venture is backed by experienced insurance entrepreneurs who have previously built and sold brokerages to industry consolidators. As the Managing Director you will operate with significant autonomy, meaningful equity participation, and a clear mandate to create enterprise value rather than simply manage a business.
Investor Backing
The shareholder group consists of senior insurance brokers who have successfully exited businesses to UK and international consolidators. They bring deep understanding of valuation drivers, exit mechanics, insurer relationships, and acquisition strategy. The investors provide strategic support while allowing the Managing Director full operational control.
Key Responsibilities
Personally lead business development, key client acquisition, and insurer negotiations
Establish the initial revenue base and core client relationships
Define and execute a growth strategy aligned with consolidator acquisition criteria
Build a scalable, well-governed brokerage with strong EBITDA discipline
Full P&L; ownership, budgeting, forecasting, and margin management
Implement management information aligned with exit-focused reporting standards
Act as, or work closely with, FCA Senior Management Function holders
Maintain robust compliance, conduct risk management, and governance frameworks
Recruit and develop a lean, high-quality team as the business scales
Essential Experience
Senior leadership experience within UK insurance broking
Proven track record of personally generating and managing revenue
Strong FCA regulatory knowledge and operational credibility
Experience running a business, division, or substantial book with P&L; responsibility
Strongly Preferred
Previous involvement in a brokerage sale or consolidator acquisition
Understanding of valuation drivers such as EBITDA quality, retention, and scalability
Established insurer and market relationships
Personal Attributes
Entrepreneurial, resilient, and highly commercial
Comfortable in a start-up environment with personal accountability
Motivated by equity ownership and exit upside rather than salary alone
Credible leader capable of building trust with insurers, staff, and acquirers
Reward & Exit Upside
Competitive base salary
Performance-linked bonus
Meaningful equity participation with seven-figure exit potential
Clear alignment between personal upside and shareholder value creationEquity structure, vesting, and exit mechanics to be discussed with shortlisted candidates.
Salary here will depend on if you are personally investing from Day 1.
If you are not and, for example, you would receive a 20% shareholding on Day 1 with further allocations on the attainment of targets our client would like there to be a sharing of risk. This could be achieved by your salary reducing in the short term to incentivise success from its employment level. (Possibly £60,000 - £75,000)
If you would like to discuss this role in more detail, please contact Kieran at CKB Recruitment