Howden Opens First Commercial Insurance Office In Wrexham 2026

Key Points

• First commercial insurance office is now operational in Wrexham as Howden expands operations in North Wales.
• The opening came amid increased requests by local companies for insurance, risk management, and advisory solutions.
• The new Wrexham team comprises five brokers; Nathan Brookefield, Andrew Kells, Daryl Jones, Victoria Bonynge and Connor Hughes.
• Gary Stevens, Wales regional managing director of Commercial at Howden, explained that Wrexham was an obvious choice for expansion.
• The event to celebrate the opening and to collect funds for the Nightingale House Hospice of Wrexham was well attended by the partners, clients, and local businesses.

Wrexham (Wales Times) September 23, 2026 – Howden has officially opened its first commercial insurance office in uk/local/wrexham/">Wrexham, expanding its broker presence across North Wales in response to rising demand from regional businesses for specialist insurance and risk management services.

What is the significance of Howden’s Wrexham office opening?

The opening represents Howden’s first dedicated commercial insurance office in Wrexham and strengthens the broker’s footprint in North Wales, following its entry into the region in October 2025 through the acquisition of Llandudno-based Gott & Wynne. As reported by Robyn Hall of Mortgage Soup, the firm said the expansion reflected “growing demand from businesses in the region for specialist insurance, risk management and advisory services”. Emmanuel Kenning of Insurance Age noted that the broker described the move as a response to local business needs and a step to increase its presence in the area.

Gary Stevens, Wales regional managing director – commercial at Howden, said: “I am very pleased to lead the opening of our first Commercial office in Wrexham. This office location in North Wales was the natural choice for our expansion, and we are confident that increasing our presence here will enable us to continue providing exceptional service to our clients.” He added: “We’ve already welcomed a number of highly skilled brokers to our Wrexham team, to continue building Howden’s commercial specialist services in the region to position ourselves as the leading broker in and around Wrexham.”

Who has joined Howden’s new Wrexham team?

Howden has recruited five brokers to build out its Wrexham operation. Nathan Brookefield and Andrew Kells joined earlier in 2026, followed by Daryl Jones, newport/victoria/">Victoria Bonynge and Connor Hughes this month, according to Mortgage Soup.

Bonynge joined from Brown & Brown and will focus on supporting manufacturing and food and beverage businesses across Wales. Jones joined from C&C Insurance Brokers, while Hughes also moved from Brown & Brown, the report added. The hires underline Howden’s strategy of layering experienced local talent to serve commercial clients in the region.

How was the Wrexham office launch marked?

Howden marked the opening with an event for clients, partners and local businesses. The gathering also raised money for Wrexham-based Nightingale House Hospice, linking the commercial launch to local community support. The main picture accompanying Mortgage Soup’s report showed the Howden team with Mickey Thomas, indicating local stakeholder engagement at the event.

Why did Howden choose Wrexham for North Wales expansion?

Wrexham was selected as the “natural choice” for Howden’s North Wales commercial expansion, according to Gary Stevens. The decision follows Howden’s earlier move into North Wales via the October 2025 acquisition of Gott & Wynne in Llandudno, and subsequent commercial hires in the north of the country, including a locally based account executive in Wrexham earlier this year, as noted by Insurance Business Mag. The sequence of acquisition followed by targeted hiring and now a dedicated office points to a staged build-out of capability in the region.

What services will Howden’s Wrexham office provide?

Howden’s Wrexham office will provide commercial insurance, risk management and advisory services tailored to local businesses, the firm said. The broker’s stated aim is to continue building “commercial specialist services in the region” and to position itself as the leading broker in and around Wrexham, according to Stevens. While the reports do not list specific product lines for the Wrexham site, Howden’s wider UK commercial offering includes sectors such as manufacturing, food and beverage, and other business risks, with Bonynge’s role explicitly focused on manufacturing and food and beverage clients across Wales.

Background of the development

Howden’s expansion in Wales has progressed through acquisition and recruitment before the Wrexham office opening. The broker first entered North Wales in October 2025 by acquiring Llandudno-based Gott & Wynne, establishing an initial foothold in the region. Subsequent hires included a locally based account executive in Wrexham earlier in 2026 to support businesses across the area, as reported by Insurance Business Mag. In South Wales, Howden has continued to invest in its commercial division, including the appointment of Mathew Price, an Aon veteran, as an account executive for the South Wales commercial team in September 2026. The Wrexham office opening on 23 September 2026 consolidates these earlier moves into a physical commercial presence in North Wales, with a named team and a local event to signal market commitment.

Prediction: how this development can affect local businesses and the insurance market in North Wales

The establishment of a dedicated commercial office in Wrexham is likely to increase access to specialist insurance and risk management advice for small and mid-sized enterprises in North Wales, particularly in manufacturing and food and beverage sectors highlighted by the new hires. Local businesses may benefit from shorter response times, more face-to-face engagement and tailored programmes as Howden builds out its regional team. For the wider insurance market, the move could intensify competition among commercial brokers in North Wales, prompting rivals to enhance local service levels or consider similar expansions.

Over time, if Howden successfully positions itself as the “leading broker in and around Wrexham” as stated by Stevens, the development could shift a portion of commercial placements towards the broker and encourage further investment in regional underwriting and advisory capacity.