Gallagher names Lyons CEO of specialty division as Turner steps away

By Ryan Hewlett

Feb 24 - (The Insurer) - Gallagher has appointed Sarah Lyons as CEO of its London-based specialty division, replacing the long-serving Jonathan Turner.

Lyons, currently CEO of Gallagher’s Australia and Asia business, first joined the broker through the acquisition of OAMPS in 2014.

She has held multiple senior leadership roles within the company’s Australian operation, including as COO and CEO of Australia. She was also appointed as CEO for Asia in 2023 as part of Gallagher’s expansion in the region.

In her new role at Gallagher, which subject to regulatory approval, Lyons will take over from Turner, who is leaving the business.

Turner joined Gallagher in 2015 as executive chairman of its MGA business Pen Underwriting and was appointed CEO of the unit in 2017.

In March 2020, he became CEO of Gallagher’s specialty and wholesale division, assuming oversight of all London market specialty operations.

Lyons will take up her new responsibilities and join the UK executive leadership team from July 1, 2025. She will report to Michael Rea, CEO of Gallagher’s UK broking operations.

Commenting on the leadership changes, Rea said: “Sarah has been an integral part of Gallagher’s global broking leadership for more than a decade. Since taking on the Australian CEO role in 2017, the business has significantly expanded in the country demonstrating her excellent leadership credentials. She has an incredible reputation with colleagues, insurance carriers and clients alike and her deep understanding of general insurance and Gallagher’s global business make her perfectly placed to lead our 1,100-strong London-based specialty team through its next phase of growth.”

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to Jonathan for his leadership of our specialty business over the past five years and for all of his contributions to the overall UK business since he joined as executive chairman of our Pen Underwriting business in 2015.”

Commenting on her new role, Lyons added: “It’s been incredible to see the evolution and growth of Gallagher’s UK broking operations over the past 10 years. The UK’s Specialty business has been at the forefront of that growth and has built up a reputation, right across the globe, as the go-to specialty broker within the London market.

“The team has ambitious plans for 2025 and beyond and I look forward to working with the divisional leadership of each specialist team and the wider talent within the overall specialty business to achieve those goals.”