Our People

Meet our key regional contacts

 

Sara Fardon

Managing Director, Willis Networks

Find out more

Sara Fardon

Sara Fardon

Managing Director, Willis Networks

Sara is the Managing Director of the Willis Networks. Her 27 years' in the insurance industry comprises both network and insurer experience.

Sara's passionate approach has redefined the Willis Networks market-leading proposition; she has set them on a new course, reaffirmed the networks as the most professional in the market and strengthened the members' collective voice.

Sara is FCII, Chartered Insurance Broker, Chartered Manager and Member of the Chartered Management Institute. She is keen to engage in wider industry issues and sits on the membership development committee of CMI, the CII Faculty of Broking and is joining CII board in March 2013.

Contact details - Email: willisnetworks@willis.com or Tel: +44 (0)771 365 1246

Sara Fardon
 

John Read

REGIONAL MANAGING DIRECTOR

Central and South

Find out more

John Read

John Read

REGIONAL MANAGING DIRECTOR
Central and South

John is the Regional Managing Director for our Central and South Region. He has over 20 years' experience in the industry, having worked as both a broker and insurer in his career to date.

Previous roles have included Associate Director, New Business for Marsh, and running a branch of Allianz.

Prior to joining Willis Networks, John managed the UK relationship between Allianz and Willis, including the Willis Networks division, so he joins us with a good understanding of our business and knowledge of our members.

Together with a team of Business Partners, John is responible for WCN Members in his region. He is a keen advocate of the 'Focus on You' consultancy approach, and has been heavily involve in developing the Network Evolution Model.

Contact details - Email: willisnetworks@willis.com or Tel: 0121 214 1644

John Read
 

Mike Rush

Regional Managing Director

Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland

Find out more

Mike Rush

Mike Rush

Regional Managing Director
Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland

Mike is the Regional Managing Director for Willis Networks' Northern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland Region. He has over 30 years financial services industry experience, of which more than 20 were in broking working for high street brokers, nationals and Lloyd's brokers. 

Mike also ran his own company offering business development and marketing consultancy services to various financial services institutions including insurers, brokers, mutual's and affinity groups. 

Mike joins us from a broker network where he was the Regional Director (South). He understands the importance regional brokers place upon remaining independent and is a firm believer in the right network model – which is what Willis have developed.

Mike is responsible for Willis Commercial Network and Willis N2 Members in his region.

Contact details - Email: willisnetworks@willis.com or Tel: 01772 664069

Mike Rush
 
 

Bernard Farrell

Sales Director

Find out more

Bernard Farrell

Bernard Farrell

Sales Director

Bernard is the Sales Director for Willis Networks. He has over 30 years experience, including at an insurer and a regional broker, itself acquired by the Willis Group in 1986.  

At Willis, Bernard has worked as a Business Development Director, and managed a New Business and Servicing Team and was appointed the Retail Regional MD of the Willis Preston Office in 1995. He was involved in the early formulation of the Willis Commercial Network.

In 2002 Bernard relinquished the Retail Regional Managing Directorship to concentrate on developing the Willis Commercial Network.

Bernard's team recruit new members into the Willis Commercial Network and Willis N2.

Contact details - Email: willisnetworks@willis.com or Tel: 07710 046111

Bernard Farrell
 

Simon Clegg

Business Development Manager

Northern England and Northern Wales

Find out more

Simon Clegg

Simon Clegg

Business Development Manager
Northern England and Northern Wales

Simon is Business Development Manager for Willis Networks in the North of England. Simon joined Willis in 2010 and has over 15 years experience in the insurance industry. In his career he has worked with brokers in the North and Midlands, as well as working for an insurer.

Simon's main focus is recruiting brokers to join Willis N2 and Willis Commercial Network, demonstrating how membership can deliver wider market access, increased profits and process efficiencies to their businesses.

Simon is an Associate of The Chartered Insurance Institute and a Chartered Insurance Broker.

Contact details - Email: willisnetworks@willis.com or Tel: 07506 582265

Simon Clegg
 
 

Steve Moore

Business Development Manager

Central and Southern England and South Wales

Find out more

Steve Moore

Steve Moore

Business Development Manager
Central and Southern England and South Wales

Steve is Business Development Manager for Willis Networks in the central and southern areas of England plus South Wales.

Steve has recently joined Willis and has over 32 years' experience working for insurers.  He also has a strong working knowledge of insurance networks.

Steve's main focus is recruiting brokers to join Willis N2 and Willis Commercial Network, demonstrating how membership can deliver wider market access, increased profits and process efficiencies to their businesses.

Steve is an Associate of The Chartered Insurance Institute.

Contact details - Email: willisnetworks@willis.com or Tel: 07507 777481

Steve Moore
 

Julie McCarthy

Business partner

Northern England and Northern Ireland

Find out more

Julie McCarthy

Julie McCarthy

Business partner
Northern England and Northern Ireland

Julie started her Insurance career with a regional broker in Blackburn. Working her way up from an office junior, she became involved with personal lines, running household binders and dealing with claims settlement.

Following the broker's acquisition by Willis, Julie took on a variety of roles including dealing with fleet business, commercial cases and then more latterly as branch operations manager, before moving over to the Networks Team in late 2000.

Her role with the Willis Networks is extremely varied, taking her from her Preston base to Network Members' offices on a regular basis. She acts as a conduit for Members into the other specialist areas of Willis as well as assisting local insurer contacts to maintain an excellent tri-partite relationship.

Julie takes responsibility for all operational duties in the North.  

Contact details - Email: willisnetworks@willis.com or Tel: 01772 664013

Julie McCarthy
 
 

Kevin Gill

Business partner

Central and Southern England and Wales

Find out more

Kevin Gill

Kevin Gill

Business partner
Central and Southern England and Wales

Kevin started his insurance career as an underwriter. During his eight years at the insurer Kevin gained experience in underwriting a wide range of different risks.

In 1989 Kevin joined the Willis Cheltenham office as an account handler, senior broker and then broking director. He has been involved in the Willis Commercial Network since its initial planning and inception.

Kevin's role involves day-to-day, local operational contact with Networks' Members and insurers in the South and Central regions. He is involved in the planning and implementation for new insurance brokers joining the Networks, and the ongoing development of Insight - the Willis Commercial Network supported software system.

Contact details - Email: willisnetworks@willis.com or Tel: 01452 883931

Kevin Gill
 

Paul Keeton

Business Partner

Eastern and South Eastern England

Find out more

Paul Keeton

Paul Keeton

Business Partner
Eastern and South Eastern England

Paul Keeton is one of our Business Partners responsible for the day to day relationship management and development of a number Network Members across Central and Southern England. In addition Paul helps deliver sales training via the Willis Networks Business School.

Paul has worked in the insurance industry for the past 28 years; 22 of which were with a major insurer in a range of business development and consultancy roles before joining Willis Networks 6 years ago. During the past 28 years Paul has worked exclusively with independent regional brokers.

Contact details - Email: willisnetworks@willis.com or Tel: 07852 229369

Paul Keeton
 
 

Mark Cobham

Business Partner

North of England

Find out more

Mark Cobham

Mark Cobham

Business Partner
North of England

Mark has 18 years' experience in the insurance industry. Previous roles have included claims handling and broking at Willis Preston office. Mark joined the Willis Networks team shortly after it was launched, working originally in an IT role for Network, mainly on the development and support of the Network IT System and moved into his current role of Business Partner in 2004.

Based in Preston, covering the North of England, Mark's current role involves being the main day to day point of contact for his panel of Network Members, providing operational support to help Network Members get the best out of their membership and ensuring strong working relationships are in place between Willis, Network Members and the Network Insurers.

Contact details - Email: willisnetworks@willis.com or Tel: 01772 664015

Mark Cobham
 

Jayne Mills

Business Partner

Central and South of England

Find out more

Jayne Mills

Jayne Mills

Business Partner
Central and South of England

Jayne Mills is a Business Partner covering Central and Southern England. She acts as the first local point of call for Network Members, to answer queries including those about markets, network facilities and added value services, such as training.

As part of the regional operations team, Jayne is also an access point to other Willis divisions and helps new Network Members orientate themselves and obtain the most benefit from the Network.

Prior to joining Willis in 2010, Jayne had worked for over 20 years in the insurance industry, including account executive, broking and claims roles.

Contact details - Email: willisnetworks@willis.com or Tel: 0121 214 1624

Jayne Mills
 
 

Kieran McGeehan

Business Partner

North of England

Find out more

Kieran McGeehan

Kieran McGeehan

Business Partner
North of England

Kieran McGeehan is a Business Partner for Willis Commercial Network working in partnership with a dedicated panel of Network Members.  Kieran has over 13 years insurance experience, including commercial and personal lines, high net worth, niche, schemes and the Lloyd's Market.

Kieran's broad insurance experience includes positions at a regional broker, and insurer and a broker network.

Kieran's role within Willis Commercial Network includes working with Members on a day-to-day basis offering support for operational issues, training, business and development plans and assisting with building strong and lasting relationships with the Network Insurers on the panel.

Contact details - Email: willisnetworks@willis.com or Tel: 01772 664060

Kieran McGeehan
 
Back to 'About Us'

Latest News

Insurance Broker Scoops Prestigious Award

Neil Willies Insurance Brokers, based in Studley, has won a prestigious national award. The Warwickshire based insurance brokers fought off competition from all over the UK to win the Willis Commercial Network...

Subscribe to RSS

REGIONAL STRENGTH

WE SUPPORT REGIONAL BROKERS ACROSS THE UK

Request news updates

To be kept up to date with Willis Networks news, join our mailing list.


Member Locations

Member Locations Map