PIB Group has appointed Richard Kirby as chief transformation and integration officer.
The firm said Kirby’s appointment further strengthens the group’s executive team, alongside international mergers, acquisitions and integrations (MA&I) and operational capabilities as part of building a pan-European insurance distribution business.
Earlier this week, PIB Employee Benefits announced the acquisition of benefits technology company YouatWork.
This followed on from the October 2023 PIB Group acquisition of broker RBIG and the purchase of Creative Benefit Solutions at the end of the previous year.
Kirby’s role will cover PIB Retail, specialty, underwriting and schemes divisions and all international territories, where the group continues to expand.
He will focus on improving how PIB integrates businesses and supporting its growth while increasing profit.
Kirby joins from LDC Private Equity after six years as partner responsible for partnering with LDC investment management teams to create value through organic and inorganic growth and operational improvement.
Before LDC Private Equity, Kirby spent much of the 2000s working for Marsh where he was CIO for Marsh Global Broking and Insurance and Aon where he was EMEA chief operating officer for health and benefits.
His appointment also means current chief operating/Information officer Paul Johnson will now have increased capacity and focus on providing leadership and innovation in the CIO element of his role, with special focus on digitisation, data, and security.
PIB added that it continues to boost its tech investments, and the group will further develop its digital, data lake, broker insight, machine learning and AI propositions to increase revenue and margins.
Johnson will also maintain some operational areas such as the Indian operation directorship and ESG.
Ryan Brown, deputy CEO for PIB Group, said: “I’m very pleased to welcome Richard to PIB Group.
“Richard joins us with extensive international insurance broking experience having held senior operational value creation roles across both the corporate and private equity sectors.
“Richard’s many years driving accretive margin growth through acquisition integration and international growth will help PIB evolve as we continue our journey as a leading European insurance distribution business of scale.”
Kirby added: “This is a fantastic time to be joining PIB Group as its international expansion increases pace.
“I have longed admired PIB Group and feel that my skills and experience will help PIB deliver best-in-class integration and support our continued journey to become a larger, better and more efficient international player.
“The PIB culture is a great fit for me with its entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit, innovation and its focus on international client needs, which is my forte.”