The development comes shortly after the firm introduced its construction division, highlighting its ongoing focus on building out expertise across targeted, high-value segments.

From 16 March, Jonny Rowling has taken up the position of Senior Vice President (SVP), Head of Aviation, reporting to Tom Quy, Managing Director of ALW.

Rowling will be responsible for establishing and growing the aviation business line, with an emphasis on expanding market presence and enhancing client service capabilities globally.

He brings more than 15 years of sector experience, joining from Marsh, where he held the roles of Co-Head of General Aviation and Placement Leader, SVP. Earlier in his career, he spent seven years at Lockton.

Rowling’s appointment enhances the capabilities of the wider Acrisure Aerospace platform, supporting both continuity and expansion across the aviation sector. The group provides comprehensive coverage spanning light aircraft, commercial fleets, and complex aerospace risks, enabling clients to access solutions across US, London, and international insurance markets.

Rowling commented: “I’m excited to join ALW at such a pivotal stage in its growth. The opportunity to establish and expand a dedicated aviation practice within Acrisure’s global network is an incredible opportunity. There is significant potential to deliver innovative solutions to clients across the aviation sector, and I look forward to working closely with the team to build a strong and differentiated offering.”

Quy added: “Jonny’s appointment reflects our continued investment in building specialist capabilities within Acrisure London Wholesale. Aviation is a dynamic and globally connected market, and Jonny brings deep expertise and strong relationships that will enable us to develop a compelling proposition for clients and trading partners. As we continue to expand our platform, attracting talented leaders like Jonny is central to our long-term growth strategy.”

Rowling will add continuity and market expansion to the already existing Acrisure Aerospace group covering light aircraft to commercial fleets and all other nuanced and complex aerospace placements. Acrisure Aerospace helps clients access the full range of aviation solutions via US, London and international aerospace insurance markets.

Jason Riley, Managing Director, Acrisure Aerospace said: “Jonny’s addition strengthens the connection between ALW’s new aviation division and Acrisure Aerospace, expanding our capabilities and bringing a more holistic aerospace offering to clients worldwide.”

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Mendonça brings more than 25 years of experience in the insurance sector to the role.

He most recently served as General Manager of Howden Portugal, a position he held since 2020.

Before that, he built an extensive career at Aon, joining the company in 2006 and later serving as Chief Commercial Officer.

Mendonça commented on the new role, “Acrisure has a unique opportunity to strengthen its operations in Portugal and drive new levels of growth, leveraging advanced technology alongside tailored business and insurance solutions that put the client at the centre.

“I look forward to working with the broader team to execute the Group’s strategy focused on innovation with sustainable growth.”

Jason Howard, President, Acrisure International, said, “The Portuguese market continues to present compelling growth opportunities, and we are focused on attracting leaders with deep regional expertise to support our clients’ ambitions.

“João brings an exceptional reputation and a proven ability to drive growth and innovation, and we are delighted to welcome him to Acrisure.”

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This platform was developed in collaboration with Verisk Specialty Business Solutions and receives backing from Lloyd’s syndicates, including Flux Syndicate 1985.

By leveraging data analytics and streamlined digital placement, Acrisure Connect, aims to solve the historical friction that has kept small commercial risks away from London’s specialty underwriters.

Acrisure Connect will offer a range of specialised insurance products tailored to the needs of SMBs. Initially these will include errors & omissions coverage, sexual molestation liability, transportation, and cyber. With further product lines planned for introduction in future phases.

Tom Quy, Managing Director, Acrisure London Wholesale, said: “Acrisure is a trusted advisor to approximately 5 percent of SMBs in the United States and Acrisure Connect is a major step forward in giving these businesses access to the London market with the same level of sophistication and efficiency typically reserved for larger firms.

“By combining the deep expertise of the Acrisure London Wholesale team, Acrisure’s expansive reach, and Verisk’s cutting-edge technology and data insights, we’re enabling specialist London market solutions to serve SMBs across the U.S. and globally like never before.”

Tim Rayner, CEO, General Insurance for UK & Ireland, and Specialty Business Solutions, emphasised the technological shift: “Verisk is proud to partner with Acrisure on the launch of Acrisure Connect, a platform that represents a significant development in the modernisation of how small and mid-size businesses access the London market.

“By combining our technology with Acrisure’s strength of distribution, we’re able to unlock new opportunities and bring greater dynamism, accuracy, and efficiency to the placement process. This collaboration exemplifies how innovative technology can drive meaningful change in the insurance ecosystem. We look forward to refining this innovative platform along with Acrisure to serve the dynamic needs of brokers and underwriters.”

Acrisure has also confirmed that additional product lines are planned for introduction in future phases to further expand market access.

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The collaboration will modernise Intermont’s pricing and underwriting operations while establishing a solid foundation for Optalitix’s expansion into the Dutch market.

As part of the initiative, Intermont will implement Optalitix Quote and Optalitix Models to replace its Excel-based pricing and underwriting processes with a fully cloud-based, end-to-end system. Work is set to begin in Q1 2026, with full implementation expected by Q2/Q3 2026.

The new platform will streamline previously manual and fragmented workflows, offering centralised model management, automated processes, quicker quote delivery, reduced errors, and real-time portfolio data capture to support more informed risk selection and decision-making.

Dino Mantovani, Enterprise Sales Executive at Optalitix, commented: “This partnership with Intermont is a landmark moment for Optalitix in the Netherlands. Intermont will benefit from increased agility and flexibility without the need for costly, bespoke system builds, while gaining the scalability required to expand across new products, regions, and growing business volumes. The partnership will also accelerate speed-to-market and significantly improve operational efficiency, strengthening Intermont’s competitive position.”

Jeroen Baart, Managing Director at Intermont, said: “By working with Optalitix we are improving our commercial underwriting and strengthening how we present our portfolio to capacity providers. The platform helps us demonstrate control, transparency, and granular insight in our book of business.”

Pascal Durant, Head of Business Development & Underwriting Director Casualty & Marine at Intermont, added: “The partnership with Optalitix enables us to take the next step towards becoming a data-driven MGA. It allows us to analyse and process data more efficiently to develop stronger underwriting models and propositions.”

Ognjen Jovanovic, Operations Director at Intermont, noted: “Optalitix understands how an MGA works in practice. This partnership is about giving our brokers a smoother experience, our underwriters better tools, and our carriers a deeper, data-driven view of the portfolio.”

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Vave, which uses data-driven, precision underwriting to deliver instantly bindable quotes on U.S. catastrophe-exposed E&S property risks, with real-time binding and servicing via API, will continue operating under its own brand.

Its founding management team, led by Marek Shafer, will remain in place, and Canopius will stay on as one of several capacity providers under a multi-year agreement.

Vave will join Acrisure Underwriting, a platform of 11 MGAs in the U.S. market based in New York City.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions. Terms were not disclosed.

Grahame Millwater, President Global Markets & International at Acrisure, commented, “Vave’s technology focus aligns perfectly with Acrisure’s fintech strategy. Vave’s team has proven themselves to be skilled underwriters of cat-exposed small commercial and homeowners’ risks.

“As a unit within Acrisure Underwriting, Vave and Acrisure will continue to invest in Vave’s proprietary technology and expansion of products, coverages and geographies.”

Neil Robertson, Group CEO of Canopius, said, “We are immensely proud of what the Vave team has accomplished. From its inception as a bold idea to becoming a market-leading technology-driven MGA, Vave reflects Canopius’ commitment to innovation and practical solutions for clients. We look forward to continuing our partnership and watching Vave thrive as part of Acrisure’s ambitious vision.”

Marek Shafer, CEO of Vave, added, “Today marks a watershed moment for Vave. We are grateful for Canopius’ support since we hatched our original idea, and for our ongoing capacity support. The opportunities for Vave within Acrisure are exciting – our shared outlook on the future of underwriting will ensure we continue to deliver enhanced value to our clients, distribution and capacity partners.”

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In this role, Radelet will oversee the company’s global corporate brand and reputation strategy, including communications, public affairs, corporate citizenship, and events.

He will serve on Acrisure’s leadership team and report to John Tuttle, President of Business Development.

Radelet joins Acrisure from Walgreens Boots Alliance, where he served as Global Chief Communications Officer and Senior Vice President.

Prior to that, he spent eight years at Hilton, also serving as Chief Communications Officer and Senior Vice President. Earlier in his career, he held roles at Sprint Nextel, AOL, MicroStrategy, and Weber Shandwick.

Tuttle said, “Acrisure is a rapidly growing fintech leader operating in 24 countries and all 50 U.S. states.

“Aaron is a highly respected expert in building and promoting global brands, and we’re thrilled to welcome him as Acrisure’s success becomes increasingly recognised worldwide.”

Radelet commented, “Acrisure has achieved a tremendous amount in a relatively short period of time and is positioned to go to much greater heights in the future. It has all the key fundamentals – a strong purpose, proven business strategy, exceptional talent, proprietary technology and loyal clients.

“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to work with our team to get this story out far and wide.”

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Heartland Payroll is considered one of the largest payroll and human capital management (HCM) companies in the United States.

The acquisition, first announced in May 2025, will bring Heartland Payroll’s 50,000+ clients under the Acrisure umbrella and significantly expand the company’s current payroll and HCM capabilities.

“This transaction is more than an acquisition of a business, it signifies the importance of listening to our clients and finding the right solutions to better serve their needs,” said Greg Williams, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Acrisure.

He continued: “Payroll and HCM technology are highly desired capabilities for small and medium-sized business owners who are increasingly looking to consolidate their non-discretionary business services with a single trusted advisor.

“Adding a scaled payroll and HCM offering strengthens and broadens our client offering and marks a significant milestone in our journey to becoming the most comprehensive provider of financial service products for small and medium-sized businesses.”

With the completion of the transaction Heartland Payroll is to be rebranded. Vince Lombardo has now joined Acrisure and will lead the AurisSM Payroll and HCM Division.

He brings over two decades of leadership experience in payroll and financial services. Most recently, he was the President of North America Merchant Solutions at Global Payments.

Lombardo commented: “Joining Acrisure marks an exciting new chapter for this business. We remain committed to empowering small businesses with intuitive, reliable payroll and HR products and services.

“Now, as part of Acrisure’s ever-expanding fintech ecosystem, we’re positioned to deliver even greater value to our clients. Our new Auris identity reflects the bold vision and renewed focus on helping businesses simplify operations, stay compliant and grow with confidence with great technology.”

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The new report is centred around the recent cyberattack on Collins Aerospace, a major aviation technology provider owned by RTX Corporation.

For those unaware, the firm suffered a cyberattack on the 19th of September that disrupted its MUSE system, which is a widely used airport platform that supports passenger check-in, baggage processing, and boarding operations at dozens of major international airports.

The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) has since confirmed that ransomware was used to scramble critical systems, leading to severe operational disruption.

The disruption impacted major airports including Brussels, London Heathrow, Berlin Brandenburg, and Dublin.

“The Collins Aerospace cyberattack is not a one-off. We’ve seen similar recent events involving other critical vendors, including the July 2024 CrowdStrike outage, which crippled IT systems across major corporations and governments globally, and the Kaseya ransomware attack in 2021, which affected thousands of downstream clients via managed service providers,” James Morgan, Senior Vice President at Acrisure London Wholesale, explained.

He continued, “These incidents reflect a growing trend, showing that third-party cyber risks are among the most significant threats to operational resilience.”

According to Morgan, the Collins Aerospace attack evidences that even if systems are secure, businesses are still vulnerable to a supplier’s weaknesses.

He concluded, “In today’s hyper-connected economy, organisations rely on a complex web of third-party vendors, from cloud services and software providers to logistics partners and payment processors.

“As cyberattacks grow more frequent, sophisticated, and targeted, businesses must go beyond technical defences and strengthen their risk transfer strategies, particularly around third-party exposure.

“The Collins Aerospace incident is a powerful reminder that cyber risk isn’t just about stolen data; it’s an operational, financial, and reputational threat. When a critical vendor goes down, the ripple effects can be immediate and severe.

“From aviation to healthcare, utilities to financial institutions, every sector is now deeply reliant on digital service providers. And when they fail, your business can suffer the consequences even if your own systems remain secure.

“It’s not just about covering data breaches; it’s about protecting your ability to operate, serve customers, and recover quickly when things go wrong.”

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Madanes is the largest insurance broker in Israel, with over 300 employees, providing a full range of re/insurance services to the industry, commerce, and private client sectors.

The partnership has enabled Madanes to access the Lloyd’s and broader London market, opening new avenues for specialised, complex placements.

The collaboration has already resulted in several successful placements, highlighting the value of combining Madanes’ regional expertise with Acrisure’s global network.

Madanes benefits from ALW’s deep broking expertise, access to global capacity, and strong actuarial and analytical capabilities. The partnership supports Madanes’ efforts to deliver tailored solutions across all non-marine lines of business for both regional and international clients.

Tom Quy, Managing Director of Acrisure London Wholesale, said, “Madanes is a respected and long-established broker with a reputation for deep expertise and strong client relationships. We’re excited to be working alongside their team as we continue to grow our international presence. The success we’ve seen so far—especially in navigating the Lloyd’s market—demonstrates the power of this partnership in delivering meaningful outcomes for clients.”

Boaz Rubin, CEO of Madanes, added, “We see significant opportunity in leveraging ALW’s capabilities and global relationships to enhance the value we provide to clients. The team has delivered strong results on several complex placements, showcasing their ability to respond to challenging market conditions with precision and innovation. We look forward to building on this success as we grow together.”

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The rebrand reflects a deeper strategic alignment with Acrisure’s global identity and signals the company’s next phase of growth.

Acrisure Portugal has a national presence with 12 offices, offering insurance solutions for families and businesses, as well as trade credit insurance. The company serves more than 25,000 clients.

José Rodrigues, CEO of Acrisure Portugal, said, “This milestone marks the culmination of a two-year integration process and reinforces our long-term commitment to our clients and partners.

“We are the same trusted team, now with the added strength, scale, and innovation of a global brand behind us.”

Jason Howard, President, Acrisure International, added, “We see many opportunities for growth in the Portuguese market for Acrisure. Ricardo and José and the team have been fantastic partners over the last couple of years helping us to establish Acrisure’s unique model in Portugal. We are looking forward to developing this territory further together.”

Acrisure Portugal will retain its existing management structure, client relationships, and operating model. All legal, regulatory, and licensing aspects remain unchanged, with the company continuing to operate under the supervision of ASF – Autoridade de Supervisão de Seguros e Fundos de Pensões, Portugal’s insurance and pension funds regulator.

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