Marsh forms sport, entertainment and media group

Insurance broker and risk adviser Marsh has formed a dedicated industry group to serve the needs of sport, entertainment and media clients in the UK and Ireland.

Led by global events specialist Richard Tolley (pictured, left), the group brings together more than 60 client management, technical, placement and risk management specialists from across the business to support Marsh’s sport, entertainment and media clients in mitigating the risks they face.

Tolley assumes overall leadership for the new industry group, and joins Marsh’s industry leadership team.

He joined Marsh in 1995 and will also retain his position as deputy leader of global sports and events. He reports to Charles Beresford-Davies, head of industries in the UK and Ireland.

Edel Ryan (pictured, right) has been appointed to the role of head of strategic business development for the group. Previously head of media and entertainment at JLT Specialty, Ryan has spent her career focusing on finding creative risk transfer solutions for content producers, media organisations, live entertainment, and sporting events.

Ryan will deliver the group’s collective expertise and evolving dedicated client solutions.

Steve McGuinness, who was previously managing director of Bluefin Sport, has become head of sport in the UK and Ireland within the group.

He has more than 30 years of insurance broking experience and is one of the founding members of the British Association for Sport and Law. Utilising his knowledge of the sport industry, McGuinness will continue to be responsible for the management of the Bluefin Sport team.

Beresford-Davies commented: “The impact of Covid-19 on the sports, entertainment and media industries clearly presents great challenges for our clients. The formation of Marsh’s industry team will play a key role in expanding the support and breadth of expertise we can offer our clients as we work through this crisis and beyond.”

Tolley added: “The health and wellbeing of staff and the return to the workplace are just some of the issues associated with Covid-19 and one of the many increasingly complex risks that sports, entertainment and media organisations now face. I look forward to leading the industry group, providing solutions that enable our sport, entertainment and media clients to adapt and thrive in this rapidly evolving risk landscape.”

Mark Dugdale