Howden Broking Group
Howden Broking Group is a London-founded, privately held international insurance brokerage placing commercial, specialty, and reinsurance coverage for SME and corporate clients across 57 countries and 90+ territories, with a £10bn revenue target by 2030.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Howden Broking Group does
Howden Broking Group is a London-headquartered, privately held international insurance brokerage founded in 1994 by David Howden. The group provides commercial and corporate insurance broking, reinsurance placement, and specialist advisory services to SME and enterprise clients across more than 20 industry verticals—including aviation, construction, education, financial institutions, marine, natural resources, private capital, real estate, sport and entertainment, transport and logistics, food and beverage, and primary-care healthcare. Coverage spans property and casualty, financial lines, cyber, environmental, health and benefits, and private client risks, with additional M&A advisory through a specialist secondaries practice.
The company's product platform is anchored by the Howden One Network, a partner-broker ecosystem covering 90+ territories that complements wholly-owned offices in 57 countries. Proprietary technology assets include the Howden Driving Data telematics platform—deployed to brokers with embedded AI to accelerate customer-app rollouts—and the Climate Insurability Framework, an advisory tool spanning risk modelling, risk management, risk sharing, and public policy levers. Distribution is sales-led, delivered through direct enterprise broker teams in each vertical and via channel partners for mid-market cross-border placements.
Revenue is generated primarily through insurance brokerage commissions on premium placement with carriers, supplemented by fee-based advisory income for complex risks. Growth has been driven almost entirely by acquisition—67 broker acquisitions were completed in the most recent reporting year—with notable deals including Aston Lark (£6bn+ GWP), Arctic Insurance (Norway), Bridges Insurance (New Zealand), Collegial Insurance Services (Sydney), Major Insurance Services (Western Australia), Alliance Insurance Brokers (Ireland), and the announced EPFS purchase from Evelyn Partners. The capital structure combines 33% employee ownership with three private equity investors (General Atlantic, CDPQ, Hg Capital), and the CEO has confirmed an eventual IPO intent while preserving the current shareholder architecture.
Howden Broking Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Howden Broking Group
- Legal name
- Howden Group Holdings Limited
- Website
- https://howdengroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Howden Broking Group is a London-founded, privately held international insurance brokerage placing commercial, specialty, and reinsurance coverage for SME and corporate clients across 57 countries and 90+ territories, with a £10bn revenue target by 2030.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Howden Broking Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Insurance Brokerage
- NAICS
- Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (53121)
- SIC
- Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Insurtech-Enabled Brokerage (Digital Brokers & Aggregators) (FSAEADAN)
Keywords
Where Howden Broking Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices8 records
Markets served
Howden Broking Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Insurance Brokerage Commissions: Traditional insurance brokerage model generating revenue through commissions from placing insurance coverage on behalf of clients with insurance carriers
- Specialist Advisory Services: Fee-based advisory services for specialized sectors including healthcare, food & beverage, and other industries requiring complex risk solutions
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Enterprise/Corporate Coverage |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Howden Broking Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Howden Broking Group operates as an international insurance brokerage that places commercial, corporate, and specialty insurance coverage on behalf of SME, corporate, and institutional clients across multiple industries. The company provides reinsurance brokerage, industry-specific broking practices (Aviation, Marine, Food & Beverage, Real Estate, etc.), and operates the Howden One Network of partner brokers spanning 90+ territories to deliver multinational coverage with local expertise.
Product overview
Howden Broking Group operates as a full-service insurance brokerage platform providing commercial and corporate insurance solutions across multiple industries and product lines. The core offering centers on Business and Corporate Insurance Broking and Reinsurance services, supported by a global network called Howden One Network spanning 90+ territories. The product portfolio includes specialized insurance capabilities organized by industry (Food & Beverage, Real Estate, Transportation & Logistics, Sports & Entertainment, Natural Resources, Private Capital) and by coverage type (Cyber, Environmental, Financial Lines, Health & Benefits, Private Client, Casualty). Key product modules include General Liability, Workers' Compensation, Commercial Auto, Umbrella/Excess Liability, Product Recall, Cargo & Stock Throughput, Trade Credit, and Liquor Liability. The company also offers proprietary solutions like the Climate Insurability Framework and telematics services through Howden Driving Data, along with specialized M&A advisory services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Business and Corporate Insurance Broking
- Reinsurance Brokerage
- Howden One Network
- Food & Beverage Insurance Practice
- Commercial Casualty Insurance
- Cyber Insurance
- Environmental Insurance
- Financial Lines Insurance
- Health & Benefits Advisory
- Private Client Insurance
- Employee Benefits Consultancy (EPFS)
- Identity Fraud Margin Protection Insurance
- Medical Professional Risk Solutions (MPRS) Practice
Companies that use Howden Broking Group
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Howden Broking Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Howden Broking Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Evelyn PartnersminorAcquisition of employee benefits consultancy EPFS from Evelyn Partners to expand UK employee benefits and corporate health operations. Deal expected to close in early 2026.
- Munich RecoreCollaboration with Munich Re, Accredited, and Instnt to present margin protection through identity fraud insurance coverage. Product development partnership for new insurance offering.
- Ascot RacecoursecoreFive-year official partnership extension continuing through 2030, originally established in 2021. Howden provides specialist bloodstock and equine insurance solutions to the racing industry. Both organizations celebrated the extension as a continuation of commitment to supporting British horse racing at all levels.
- Victoria Racing ClubcoreNaming partnership with Victoria Racing Club, establishing 'Howden Victoria Derby Day' event branding.
- GrECominorHowden One Network Partner in Albania, providing Property & Casualty insurance brokerage services through international network.
- RESPECTminorHowden One Network Partner in Czech Republic, providing insurance brokerage services in the regional market.
- Barnett WaddinghamminorRecent acquisition strengthening UK employee benefits operations, integrated into Howden's full-service platform.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Howden Broking Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lockton Companies: Largest privately held insurance broker globally, focused on commercial and specialty insurance placement. Comparable as a founder-led, privately held, specialty-focused broker competing in similar lines and client segments.
- Hub International: Privately held North American insurance brokerage that scaled through serial acquisitions, currently owned by PE. Closely comparable business model, ownership structure, and acquisition-led growth playbook.
- Acrisure: Privately held, PE-backed insurance broker that has rapidly scaled to top-10 globally through aggressive acquisition strategy. Closely analogous to Howden in operating model, PE ownership, and roll-up DNA.
- Brown & Brown, Inc. U.S.-focused insurance brokerage (~$5B revenue) built through disciplined acquisition strategy. Highly comparable growth-by-acquisition model and customer mix across commercial and specialty lines.
- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Publicly listed global insurance brokerage and risk management firm (~$10B revenue) with similar diversified specialty and commercial lines focus. Closely comparable in client segments, broker-led model, and M&A growth strategy.
- Alliant Insurance Services: Privately held U.S. specialty insurance broker with strong middle-market and specialty practice focus. Comparable as a non-listed competitor pursuing organic growth plus acquisitions in commercial and specialty lines.
Broad incumbents
- Aon plc: Global professional services firm focused on risk management, insurance brokerage, and reinsurance (~$13B revenue). Competes directly with Howden across commercial insurance placement, reinsurance, and specialty lines globally.
- Marsh McLennan: Largest global insurance brokerage and risk advisory firm (~$20B revenue), operating through Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer, and Oliver Wyman. Direct competitor for multinational insurance placements and large enterprise risk management engagements.
- Willis Towers Watson (WTW): Global advisory, broking, and solutions firm (~$10B revenue) operating across risk, insurance, and human capital. Competes with Howden in commercial insurance broking, reinsurance, and specialty risk placement.
- Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group: Formerly independent global insurance broker, now part of Marsh McLennan following 2019 acquisition; remains a useful reference point for the specialty and international broking segments where Howden competes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Howden Broking Group social profiles
Digital presenceHowden Broking Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Howden Broking Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Howden Broking Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
Howden Broking Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Howden Broking Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A9 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Howden Broking Group
What does Howden Broking Group do?
Howden Broking Group operates as an international insurance brokerage that places commercial, corporate, and specialty insurance coverage on behalf of SME, corporate, and institutional clients across multiple industries. The company provides reinsurance brokerage, industry-specific broking practices (Aviation, Marine, Food & Beverage, Real Estate, etc.), and operates the Howden One Network of partner brokers spanning 90+ territories to deliver multinational coverage with local expertise.
Is Howden Broking Group a public or private company?
Howden Broking Group is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Howden Broking Group founded?
Howden Broking Group was founded in 1994. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Howden Broking Group based?
Howden Broking Group is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Howden Broking Group make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Insurance Brokerage Commissions are the primary driver. The others are specialist Advisory Services.
Who are Howden Broking Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lockton Companies, Hub International, Acrisure, Brown & Brown, Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and Alliant Insurance Services. Broad incumbents are Aon plc, Marsh McLennan, Willis Towers Watson (WTW) and Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group.
Does Howden Broking Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Howden Broking Group.
What industry is Howden Broking Group in?
Howden Broking Group's product category is Insurance Brokerage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEADAN, Insurtech-Enabled Brokerage (Digital Brokers & Aggregators). Its NAICS code is 53121 and its SIC code is 6531.