“Bring your problem to Talsen and we will do our best to solve it simply and effectively, with minimum fuss,” says CEO, Russell Coward, who places an emphasis on leveraging his own rich experience and the expertise of his team to solve the real business challenges you may be facing.

He draws on many years of personal experience in shining an illuminating light on what many consider the “dark arts” of the insurance trade – compliance and regulatory practice, simplifying and making sense of what many consider to be complex and inaccessible. Proof of this lies in the kind of expertise he has provided on market bodies including the LMA Delegated Authority Committee.

Having started and run several businesses successfully, as well as building out operations beyond the UK in South Africa, the USA, Mexico, Zurich, and Brussels, he brings the practical learnings and knowledge to the table that allows him to help others stay ahead of “snapping crocodiles”.

Russell further developed his knowledge of the industry and the inner workings of the London Market during his time at Hiscox where he carried out compliance activities across the UK, Guernsey, European, Bermuda and US business units and through the establishment of a Lloyd’s Syndicate. 

Most recently, at Pioneer Underwriters, he was Senior Manager for Compliance Oversight (SMF 16), MD of Pioneer’s Belgian entity and a member of the Executive Committee, and in October 2020 he assumed the role of CEO and started the process of transforming Pioneer into Talsen.

“Through my 20 years of insurance experience I have seen the challenges which have arisen from an industry and a world that have been changing at an uncomfortably rapid pace. My most rewarding experiences during my career have been those times where my colleagues and I have overcome one or more of those challenges with effective solutions. We have therefore set out to create Talsen as a ‘solutions factory’. Our goal is to help solve the problems our clients are facing using the brainpower, technology and expertise we’ve been able to develop.”

“At Talsen we believe in technology that is designed to enable what you, our clients, are trying to do. Our aim is lean-by-design to get the balance right between rigorous cost management and maximum capability,” says Jenny Retief who heads up the Technology offering at Talsen.

In delivering on this philosophy, Jenny draws on a career that spans the corporate world, entrepreneurship, and the social development space – so she knows that systems solutions need to make a real and practical impact on any business.

Starting out as a software developer at a South African bank and later picking up the vision for technology as CIO of Hollard Insurance group, Jenny has been hands-on in the tech space throughout much of her career.

In 2007 Jenny started Innosys, a business developing bespoke software for the insurance industry, building and supporting custom solutions for South African and UK insurers. Innosys still serves leading London market and South African insurers.

Jenny later co-founded the successful non-profit, Riversands Incubation Hub – Africa’s most ambitious incubator, and home to more than 160 small businesses.

“Talsen tech is true to the way we do business at Talsen. We don’t believe in systems and technology for the sake of it. We believe in using it only when it can turbo-charge a process or solution and allow you to leapfrog inefficient ways of doing things. Just like the rest of our offering, it needs to solve seamlessly.“

“Dependability, trust and delivery are really important to me and the way I like to work with people. Talsen aspires to never promising what we can’t deliver,” says Shelley Birnie who runs Operations at Talsen.

This philosophy speaks to an approach that Shelley has adopted throughout her career, whether it be in the below-the-line advertising and retail industries she ran before first entering the insurance field, or in managing a successful retail insurance business, or delivering compliance services in the highly regulated pension fund industry.

“Clients should be able to confidently rely on the services we provide. They should never have to worry about operations or security challenges. I’d like them to feel that it’s taken care of,” says Shelley, who ensures she delivers on this in all that she does, including in her role as Principal Executive Officer for four Umbrella Retirement Funds.

Having focused on effective and efficient management and operations throughout her career, she brings this pragmatic experienced view to helping Talsen clients realise the visions they have for their businesses. 

“I believe in asking the right questions, digging deeper, making sure that we don’t take the data at face value,” says Hazel Beveridge, who heads up both the actuarial and finance functions at Talsen. 

“As an MGA you should be able to focus on getting on with your business and we should apply the investigative skills needed to unlock the information and enable you to think forward.”

Hazel is a qualified actuary who also holds an MBA from Cass Business School. She has a unique blend of technical, business and strategic skills. 

Hazel has held a variety of senior roles in (re)insurers, MGA, consultancy, and regulation. She has 25 years of general insurance knowledge. Prior to joining Pioneer as Chief Actuary her roles included project director at the Financial Reporting Council, Chief Actuary & Strategic Director at Dual International and Head of Actuarial at Market International.

“Actuarial and financial problems can often seem inaccessible. I want to help you to make decisions in your business; by turning complicated data into a practical and understandable asset. Therefore, providing solutions to empower the future success of your business.”

As non-Executive Chairman of Talsen, Jason plays a significant role in bringing the talent and knowledge in the business together to deliver cohesive advice that shows an understanding of the breadth and depth of the insurance value chain.

With nearly 30 years’ experience in the UK and international insurance market, his career spans audit, risk, compliance, corporate governance, and consultancy.

Having qualified as a CA with Ernst & Young in London, he spent time in the Hiscox Group, leading the internal audit and compliance functions through a period of significant international expansion into Europe, Bermuda, and the USA.

Jason retained an oversight role for the Hiscox internal audit function for the entirety of his 19 years’ service, during which time it developed into one of the most respected IA teams in the market.

His standing in the London Market is also well proven, having served on several market organisations, most notably the Lloyd’s Market Association Regulatory Committee for 9 years, and the Lloyd’s Brexit Committee.

Jason has also been a co-owner and director of a growing London Market compliance consultancy with a team of employees and associates providing advice and solutions to insurers, brokers and managing general agents.