Directors

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Paul Turner

Executive Chairman

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After graduating from university, Paul joined Alan Turner in 1982, establishing a business that combined insurance broking and underwriting, (Sabre Insurance Company).

Over the years, Paul played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s direction and was involved in providing insurance cover for several landmark global events, including Live Aid, The Pope’s Tour of Australia, and The Wall Concert in Berlin, which marked the reunification of Germany.

Seventeen Group has grown to employ over 500 staff across 25 offices in the UK, Isle of Man, Switzerland, and Germany.

He has also supported numerous startups and continues to pursue a wide range of interests, from diversity and inclusion recruitment to safety innovations.

Married with two children he recently became a grandfather for the first time. Outside of work, his personal passions include tennis, shooting, golf, contemporary art, and fly fishing.

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Oliver Thorne

Chief Executive

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David Allori

Chief Operating Officer

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I am Chief Operating Officer and joined the James Hallam Group in 2005.

Previously I was Director with a Lloyds broker, heading up the Corporate team, and began my insurance career in Zimbabwe working for a number of global brokers with a focus in construction and mining.

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Ajay Tailor

Chief Financial Officer

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Ajay began his career at Deloitte in 2005 and is a Chartered Accountant. He spent three years with Liberty Syndicates supporting the Group CFO with the implementation of Solvency II and drove a wider finance transformation project.

Moving from finance to support the Group CEO on strategy and corporate development Ajay spent 5 years with Prudential Plc. Working with the Group exec and Board to ensure formulation, challenge and execution was aligned both internally and communicated clearly to the market. This period saw a 3x growth in market capitalisation, to become one of the world’s largest insurance companies.

Ajay spent 5 years with two private equity backed insurance intermediaries. With Ardonagh he oversaw the formulation of various divisions. As finance director he oversaw the integration of various Towergate Retail with Direct Group and Healthy Pets to create the Schemes and Programs division. He went on to oversee the MGA division which made 4 acquisitions. At Kingfisher he was the Group CFO of the UK group. He supported the wider group in the sale of NSM from White Mountains to Carlyle Group in 2022.

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Howard Fryer

Chief Trading Officer

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Howard leads the Corporate division and has worked in the broking industry since the 1980s. He joined James Hallam as City & Mid Market Director in 2015 and is responsible for the City Division, Profin Division and an expansion program aimed at UK mid-sized commercial risks. Howard is part of the James Hallam Management Team.

Before joining James Hallam Howard was at Bluefin Insurance Services where as Head of Corporate he focused on UK based commercial clients along with the specialisms of Professions, Real Estate, and Trade Credit. Prior to that he was the Managing Director for London & South regions.

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Alan Turner

Life President

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Alan Turner founded James Hallam and Sabre Insurance in 1982 after leaving the Board of Alexander Howden.

Earlier a Deputy General Manager of Commercial Union, Alan has a wide range involvement and experience within the sector having been Chairman of the Association of British Insurers Law Reform Panel and the U.K. Nuclear Risks Advisory Committee.

Formerly a Vice President of the Insurance Institute of London and founder member of the Worshipful Company of Insurers and Past Captain of the Insurance Golfing Society of London.

Despite all this Alan finds the time to indulge in many outside interests which include quality family time, Christian activities, tennis, golf, fishing, the theatre, opera and music and travel.