Press Releases from Academy Insurance
18th September 2025
Gordon Crosbie has been appointed Group CEO of newly re-branded BDH Group.
Gordon was at the Ardonagh Group for 12 years before setting up his own consultancy, prior to being appointed non-executive director at the Group earlier this year by Blixt Group, owner of BDH.
His first task is to oversee a restructure of the Group as it positions itself to deliver a mix of organic and inorganic growth during the next three years.
He said that BDH Group (formerly Academy Insurance Services) will be split into three operating segments: Premierline (which was acquired from Allianz in March2024), AIB (acquired in October 2024), and BDH Insurance Broking.
Lancaster-based Premierline will distribute SME, AIB will write niche personal lines including HNW and high performance and high value car, while BDH Insurance Broking will focus on corporate and large commercial business.
The Group is headquartered in Reading with four other offices around the UK and employs 175 people.
Simon Bennett, currently Deputy Managing Director, will become Commercial Director with responsibility for growing the business across all three segments.
Brendan McCafferty, BDH Group chairman said: “Gordon is a hugely experienced individual, combining strategic nous with drive and determination.”
“He is the right person to lead the business through the next phase of its journey and I am confident that, with Gordon at the helm, and ably supported by Simon, BDH Group will be in a good position to deliver long term value for our insurance partners, our customers, our people and our investor.”
Gordon Crosbie said: “We are now well-set to deliver organic growth across our three divisions. Presently we write a combination of 35% niche personal lines and 65%commercial, but in the medium term we expect to see the balance move to a higher commercial balance as we grow our Account Executive proposition.”
He added: “We are also actively seeking inorganic growth in the broking division, where we believe we have a compelling offer for vendors looking to create value from their life’s work.”
“We avoid a volume approach to acquisitions, preferring to offer vendors bespoke propositions which suit their personal circumstances, including nurturing and developing their people.”
Gordon said that the Group also has ambitions to move into the MGA sector, as well as employee benefits.
“Our investor sees the strategic value of a portfolio business, our M&A offering is slightly different to many of the larger players, this seems to provide advisors with a good alternative option for their Broking clients. In addition, we have a good pipeline of inorganic opportunities in these areas too.”
He concluded: “It’s a really exciting time to be joining BDH Group. I am impressed by the dedication and focus of our people, and now that we have set out a clear direction for the Group, I am relishing the opportunities provided by this new challenge.”
He said that a new website is planned to go live in early September, following a series of ‘town hall’ meetings at the Group’s offices across the UK, where he’ll set out his vision for BDH.
About Gordon
Gordon Crosbie spent six years in a variety of senior positions at Ardonagh Advisory, including head of M&A in the North of the UK (2023-2025), and on the Exec Board as UK Integration director (2019-2023). A broking ‘lifer,’ he joined the family business, Crosbie and Jack Insurance Brokers, working his way up to become CEO, before selling up in 2009. He joined Towergate as RMD North England, Scotland& NI in 2011.
Visit: https://www.bdhgroup.co
8th October 2024
Beyond Doubt Holdings Limited has reached an agreement with Airsports Insurance Bureau to buy the Hampshire-based specialist lines broker.
The deal is the next step in Beyond Doubt’s ‘buy and build’ growth strategy and is key to achieving its plan to create a nationally respected insurance brand. The purchase is the second deal this year, following the successful acquisition of Premierline.
Airsports Insurance Bureau is an independent broker with a service-led client centric approach, with roots that can be traced as far back as 1993. They employ 18 insurance experts, dealing with circa 15,000 niche and high net worth clients.
Airsports Insurance Bureau will continue to trade under their current brand name and enjoy the benefits of being part of a nationwide insurance brokerage.
Martin Tyler, CEO of the Beyond Doubt Group, said: “This is an exciting step in our goal to building a diversified national broking proposition. Airsports Insurance Bureau’s reputation in delivering specialist customer centric propositions is a great fit and addition to the Group.”
“We see a gap in the market and are on a journey to build a national broker with a diversified and differentiated customer proposition.”
He continued: “I’m pleased to welcome the Airsports team to the Group and look forward to working together to continue our future growth plan.”
Beyond Doubt Holdings Limited is a general insurance broking group that operates under trading names Academy Insurance Services Limited and Premierline Limited. The Group acquired Academy in 2023 and Premierline earlier this year, and now with Airsports Insurance Bureau serves 75,000 customers, from multiple locations across the UK.
Visit: https://www.academyinsurance.co.uk
and https://www.premierline.co.uk
AboutAirsports Insurance Bureau
AirsportsInsurance Bureau (AIB) is an independently owned insurance broker based inHampshire and was founded in 1993. The business specialises in catering topersonal niche and high net worth clients. AIB is authorised a regulated by theFinancial Conduct Authority to transact general insurance, registration number312153.
12th March 2024
Academy Insurance Services (Academy) has reached an agreement with Allianz Holdings plc (Allianz) to acquire 100% of the equity capital of Allianz Business Services Ltd, trading as Premierline.
Premierline is headquartered in Lancaster and writes specialist commercial insurance across the UK. It was founded in 2001 as Premierline Direct, and launched the UK’s first direct to consumer commercial insurance proposition before becoming part of Allianz in 2006. The business acquired Willis BusinessCare in 2015 and rebranded to Premierline Business Insurance Broker in 2019. It employs nearly 90 insurance experts, dealing with circa 17,000 clients, ranging from micro SME to large corporates.
Gilles Normand, CEO of Academy, hailed the acquisition as a major step forward in Academy’s buy and build strategy and a key plank in medium term plans to create a nationally respected brand utilising a hub and spoke model.
“Premierline will be our hub business covering the North West, sitting alongside Academy in the South and West, and we are targeting others to act as our hubs as well as centres for further bolt on acquisitions.”
He said: “In five years we intend to become the market benchmark for impeccable service to customers.”
“Premierline will become part of a purpose-led business that ensures that our customers are well-protected when they need us.”
“The Premierline team are hugely valuable to us: Their skillset complements the Academy Group and will enable us to accelerate our growth plan.”
“In doing so, we intend to maintain and nurture the high level of professionalism within the Premierline team after they become part of our Group.”
He continued: “We don’t sell through aggregators, so we need seasoned experts to service the customers we support. I’ve been impressed by the level of expertise in the team, illustrated by their platinum award from Feefo and their strong commitment to customer centric values.”
Gilles said that the Premierline team are to transfer across and the brand and offices will not change. “This is not a costs and synergies story, it is a growth story,” he added.
Premierline has a strong insurer partner panel in place and currently trades directly with over 40 carriers, which will bring new opportunities to the wider Academy Group.
Helen Bryant, managing director, digital & legal protection, Allianz Commercial, said: “Premierline is a well-established player and experienced insurance broker which provides a great service.”
“Our decision to sell the business aligns with Allianz’s strategic ambitions and I’m confident that Academy Insurance is an excellent fit to take the business forward, building on the fantastic work that has already been achieved.”
“Our focus now is on our people and we will be providing those involved our full support at this time of change. I’d personally like to thank our people, customers, partners and suppliers for all the support they’ve provided to us over the years.”
Summarising the announcement, Gilles Normand said: “I expect 2024 to be a critical year for Academy with multiple acquisitions due to complete in the coming months after this important deal.”
“We have our sights set on other acquisitions where vendors are looking to create a good return from their life’s work, but also seeking a home for their business which sits easily with their own values.”
Completion of the acquisition is conditional upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, including FCA approval.
Allianz was advised by Deloitte FIG Corporate Finance as exclusive lead financial adviser and Pinsent Masons LLP as legal adviser. Academy Insurance was advised by PKF Littlejohn and Gordons LLP.
Academy Insurance was founded in 1995. , The business has grown over the years and now serves 50,0000 customers from across the South and West of the UK. In 2023, private equity house Blixt Group invested in the business with a strategy to develop its people and technology, and make funding available to the management team to grow both organically, and through M&A.
Visit: https://www.academyinsurance.co.uk
Information:
Ben Welsh 07568 382040
Mark Bishop 07802 925053
Allianz Holdings plc is the non-regulated holding company which owns the principal insurance operations of Allianz SE in Great Britain including Allianz Insurance
The Allianz Group is one of the world's leading insurers and asset managers with more than 122 million* private and corporate customers in more than 70 countries. Allianz customers benefit from a broad range of personal and corporate insurance services, ranging from property, life and health insurance to assistance services to credit insurance and global business insurance. Allianz is one of the world’s largest investors, managing around 706 billion euros** on behalf of its insurance customers. Furthermore, our asset managers PIMCO and Allianz Global Investors manage about 1.7 trillion euros** of third-party assets. Thanks to our systematic integration of ecological and social criteria in our business processes and investment decisions, we are among the leaders in the insurance industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. In 2022, over 159,000 employees achieved total revenues of 152.7 billion euros and an operating profit of 14.2 billion euros for the group***.
* Including non-consolidated entities with Allianz customers.
** As of September 30, 2023.
*** As reported – not adjusted to reflect the application of IFRS 9 and IFRS 17
