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VICTORIA CARTER Vice chairman of international operations Guy Carpenter
Though she started her career track in medicine, Victoria (Vicky) Carter eventually found herself in insurance and never left. The insurance trade is “somewhat akin to medicine – you listen to problems and try to solve them”, she says. A key member of Guy Carpenter’s international leadership team, Carter is responsible for driving new business production across the reinsurance specialist company’s international operations. With over 37 years’ experience in the reinsurance industry, Carter was the first female founder of a Lloyd’s brokerage since its beginnings in 1668, and has held a number of senior executive positions within the broking sector, most recently serving as chairman of UK and international operations at Towers Watson. Carter is a freeman of the City of London and a court member of the Worshipful Company of Insurers. She was the inspiration behind the March and McLennan Companies Young Professionals’ Global Forum and Gala Night, which has received market-wide recognition and raised significant funds for charity since starting three years ago. In her spare time, Carter enjoys interior design and often finds herself redesigning home interiors.
MONIQUE VAN DER LINDEN Chief operating officer CNA Hardy
Monique van der Linden has gained over 30 years’ experience in claims management while working with major insurers Aon and Chubb, serving as European financial lines claims manager for the latter before joining CNA Hardy in 2012 as head of claims for Europe.
SHARON BECKETT CEO Complete Cover Group/Hyperformance
When she is not spending time with her husband, daughters and golden retrievers, Sharon Beckett leads one of the largest independent specialist brokers, Complete Cover Group, which was founded in 1968. Having spent over half her life in the business, Beckett first “fell” into insurance as a result of her financial background. Helping to launch a premium finance company led to her transition into insurance. For Beckett, insurance is one of the most exciting industries to work in, with great potential for growth for companies with the right strategy and people. Being able to contribute to that gives her the greatest sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. “I most enjoy developing people and helping them to realise their potential,” she says. “I don’t consider that there has been a single great personal achievement. All the successes in my career were team efforts … I have been incredibly lucky in my career to have been instrumental in the growth and development of some significant businesses.”
ELIZABETH BILNEY CEO Eldon Insurance Services
Four years ago, Elizabeth Bilney left an established career to help create a new broking business. Within four years, Eldon Insurance Brokers has grown from a start-up to employing over 1000 personnel based in four locations internationally. In addition, Bilney also co-founded GoSkippy Insurance, a trading style of Eldon. “My greatest accomplishment is knowing I’ve been part of other people’s successful career journeys,” she says. “By building a strong sustainable business, we have found friends, provided job security and a very interesting and fun day-to-day work life.” When she is not running her insurance business, Bilney heads the Leave.EU campaign and has made regular appearances on political shows to discuss the EU referendum.
www.insurancebusiness.co.uk
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