Management Team
Ian Gosden, Managing Director
Ian is the founder and Managing Director of Higos and has built the business from the ground up. He started his business life in 1986 working for GAN Life and Pensions, mainly as Branch Manager with a team of 18. He set up a new GAN office within 18 months of being with the company and in 1990 he set up Ian Gosden trading as Higos Financial Services. His key skills are developing new business areas, maintaining and developing relationships and negotiating contracts with insurance companies.
Claire Blaymires, Operations Director & Group Company Secretary
Claire is the Director of Operations and Group Company Secretary. She is responsible for compliance/audit and business processes as well as the portfolio of property including maintenance. She is also responsible for acquisitions and post sale integration. She has been in the Financial Services industry since 1994 joining Higos in 1997. Claire is CeMAP, and FPC qualified and has achieved her Diploma in Company Direction via the Institute of Directors.
Julian Unthank, HR Director
Julian is Human Resources Director and joined Higos in August 2007 following 22 years with Lloyds TSB in various Senior HR roles both in the UK and abroad. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development he is responsible for implementing and delivering the “People Strategy” focusing on resourcing, talent management, training, career development and learning opportunities.
David Brown, Finance & IT Director
David is Finance & IT Director and joined in March 2009. A qualified chartered accountant for 25 years, David has had an extensive financial services career with senior roles at TSB / Lloyds TSB, where he worked for 15 years, and more recent roles with Threadneedle Asset Management, AXA and BT. His role is to lead the accounts department, work on the continued development of our financial management information and provide financial input to the company’s strategy and development.
Chris Scott, Retail Branch Director
Chris is Retail Branch Director and joined Higos in December 2010. Chris previously worked for one of the UK’s leading high street financial services organisations for over 30 years in a variety of roles, most recently as Local Director for 20 of the bank’s branches in the Bristol area. Chris is responsible for the day-to-day running and development of our high street branch network.
Neil Wyatt, Marketing Manager
Neil is responsible for developing and implementing the marketing strategy at Higos. A qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Neil has 11 years marketing experience across multiple industries. Neil joined Higos in January 2009.
Donal Henry, Corporate Business Manager
Donal is our Corporate Business Manager, with over 20 years industry experience with Zurich (as a key account manager), RSA and McCarthy Insurance Group (as Commercial Manager). He is responsibile for the account executives.
Chris Wilde, Commercial Manager
Chris is responsible for our Business Enterprise, Higos Underwriting and Commercial Claims teams, in addition to developing relationships with our commercial insurance partners and developing our commercial product lines. Chris joined Higos in 2008 and is ACII qualified and a Chartered Insurance Broker.
Chris has 32 years experience within the industry in various commercial insurance related roles including 10 years of successfully running his own insurance brokerage.
Trudy Brown, Personal Lines Manager
Trudy is Personal Lines Divisional Manager and is responsible for all personal lines insurance (non motor) including the Let Property scheme and Platinum team. Trudy had 8 years experience in the insurance industry before joining Higos in 1997. She successfully gained her Diploma in Insurance qualification and is now working towards her ACII.
