JLT Specialty installs Nigel Somerville as European Risk Consulting Leader
A former Marine and counter-terrorism expert has been appointed as the European Risk Consulting Leader at JLT Specialty. Nigel Somerville arrives at the firm from media giant Time Incorporated’s UK wing.
CFOs are facing a period of dramatic change, with technology rapidly altering the way in which they can organise their processes and workflows, while developments such as AI and RPA are disrupting key areas of the financial landscape. Meanwhile, mounting pressures from the looming cybersecurity threats, heightened geopolitical tensions and a number of embarrassing regulatory short-comings have seen the consulting industry take a variety of steps to prepare for heightened demand from clients looking to adapt to an uncertain business environment in coming years.
JLT Specialty is a subsidiary of the Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group (JLT), one of the world's leading providers of insurance, reinsurance, and employee benefits related advice, brokerage, and associated services. As the firm looks to accommodate the rapidly changing needs of its clients in the field, the firm has appointed risk expert Nigel Somerville as its Head of Risk Consulting for Europe. The role, which is based in London, will see Somerville take responsibility for driving JLT Specialty's value proposition in its core areas of risk advisory and consultancy across Europe. In this capacity, he will work closely with JLT's global consulting leadership, in order to ensure that clients continue to have access to JLT’s global resources and expert advice amid unpredictable times.
Somerville, who was awarded an MBE Military Cross in 2010 for his then 14 years of service with the Royal Marines, was Operations Directorate for the UK Ministry of Defence between 2011 and 2013, remaining with the Marines while working a strategic national security and counter-terrorism role for the government. In this capacity, he provided advice to Ministers, the Cabinet Office and the National Intelligence and Security agencies, before ending his period of service for a succession of roles in the private sector.
He spent three years as a Managing Director Risk Management with Source8 before joining his most recent employer, Time Incorporated, in 2016. Somerville spent the following two years as the Director of Global Risk & Security at the media giant’s UK arm, and as he leaves to begin life with JLT Specialty, he will bring with him the significant expertise gained through senior risk and security roles, including experience identifying risk exposure and providing mitigation strategies for FTSE 250 companies establishing operations in emerging markets.
Commenting on his arrival at the firm, Mike Giacobbe, Global Head of Data, Analytics, and Consulting at JLT Specialty, said, “We are excited to have Nigel's expertise as we continue growing our global consulting footprint and bringing our industry leading risk advisory services to all of our clients. Clients in challenging risk areas will immediately benefit from his extensive experience in emerging risk and we look forward to the unique insight he brings to JLT.”
Paul Knowles CEO of JLT Specialty, Europe, said of Somerville, “Nigel's experience and leadership will considerably assist JLT Specialty in delivering insight to our clients, through assessing, quantifying, mitigating and managing their ever-complex risk landscapes. Nigel’s appointment further strengthens JLT’s consulting capabilities and supports us in our mission to become to the leading global specialist risk adviser and broker.”
Nigel Somerville himself added, “I am honoured and excited to be joining JLT at a time when emerging risks to business are so prevalent and challenging. I am proud to be part of such a client-centric team and look forward to working with talented colleagues across the JLT Group.”
Related: KPMG appoints Mary O'Connor as new UK risk leader.
