Miller continues its growth ambitions with entry into the Private Client market.

James Hands, Joint Head of Special Risks at Miller, recently caught up with Katie Small who heads up the Private Clients team, to talk more about the division and what it will bring to Miller.

Can you tell us a bit of background about yourself?

I worked in investment banking at ABN Amro for the first 10 years of my career and then started in insurance at the age of 26. I founded MWA, which was a niche Private Client insurance brokers with a specific focus on sports and emerging wealth, which I subsequently sold to RK Harrison in 2012. Following the sale, I headed up Private Clients, Rural and Fine Art team within the wider RK Harrison Group and undertook the same role on an expanded basis, following the Howden acquisition. 

What attracted you to join Miller?

The fact they were independent with a culture to excel in each chosen specialism - big enough to matter but small enough to care, giving us the perfect platform to create something different and special. 

Can you tell us about the new Private Clients division at Miller?

Continuing the Miller ethos of best in class, our world-class team, with a combined 50 years’ experience, will blend the best of the traditional private service and technical solutions across all risk areas of the Private Client’s world (homeowners, motor, fine art, valuables etc.) and across the geographical borders that an increasing number of clients operate/own assets.

What benefit will it provide clients?

• Peace of mind that their most valuable possessions have the protection they need
• Choice of ways to engage with our team
• Value for money 
• A team that understands and listens to our clients, providing structured solutions that fit their lifestyles

What are the main aims of the Private Client division?

To earn the reputation of best in the market from our clients and provide sustainable, profitable growth for our stakeholders. Utilising technology to modernise a traditional market to meet clients’ needs and respond to the ways in which they want to transact. Supporting our colleagues’ existing relationships by protecting their placements with rounding out accounts and increasing their product/service offering.

What makes this division of the business progressive and forward thinking?

With no legacy, we have been able to take a fresh view of ways we will operate for our client’s and stakeholder benefits, creating a market leading platform to help clients navigate a changing world, assisting those whose wealth is increasing but time to focus on their personal risk is decreasing. We will look at business from a different perspective.

You mentioned that will you look at things from a different perspective, can you expand on this? 

We recognise that Private Client brokers haven’t traditionally interacted, communicated or traded with clients using the mediums they would prefer. We intend to change this. As well as our independence, which allows us to provide a completely unbiased opinion on how best to protect their assets.

How does the team/division work with people?

Everything we do either involves people, or has a person’s needs and requirements as our priority and focus. From our clients, our colleagues or our insurers – technology can help our development. However, it’s the people behind the technology and that we spend our lives working to help manage and transfer their risk exposures, that drive our business and our desire to continually evolve and innovate. 

Where do you see the division in 5 years?