Placement and Business Strategy Leader for Affinity, Marsh Risk Europe

Company:Marsh

Description:

Role Summary: 

The Placement and Business Strategy Leader for Affinity Europe is a pivotal leadership role driving the strategic direction of placement and business within the European Affinity market. Reporting to the Affinity Leader for Europe, the role plays a key part in fostering cross-functional collaboration to harmonize market priorities, insurer capacity, and operational capabilities, driving scalable growth and improved competitive positioning.

Core Responsibilities:

1. European Placement & Carrier Strategy

• Develop and implement a comprehensive European placement strategy aligned with financial objectives and competitive positioning. 
• Establish and maintain the strategic framework for carrier engagement and capacity deployment across Europe, reflecting market standards and competitor practices. 
• Manage senior-level relationships with priority carriers in coordination with International and Specialty teams to maximize partnership value. 
• Steer and maximize the KPIs related to carrier utilization, portfolio concentration and yield optimization. 
• This role is not responsible for the activity of placement itself which remains under the responsibility of local countries.

2. Business Strategy, Market & Competitive Intelligence

• Own the business transformation strategy for Affinity in Europe, identifying priority countries, industries, segments, and products to target strategic growth areas. 
• Lead market, business, and competitive intelligence efforts to guide decisions on business transformation, growth, adaptation, or exit strategies. 
• Translate intelligence into clear capability requirements, guiding build/buy/partner choices, product development, and carrier engagement strategies.
• Identify and prioritize growth opportunities in alignment with placement capacity, insurer appetite, IT and automation capabilities, operational models, and competitive intensity. 

Key Outcomes:

• A clearly articulated European placement and business strategy with strong competitive positioning. 
• Robust alignment between market focus, carrier capacity, operational readiness, and competitive dynamics. 
• An optimized carrier portfolio delivering improved yield and risk diversification. 

Requirements:

Experience

• 15+ years in the insurance business (brokers, insurers, MGAs or consulting firms).
• Expertise in placement strategy, insurer relationships, and product structuring.
• Experience with market intelligence, competitive analysis, and international business strategy.
• Knowledge of Affinity/Specialty distribution in multi-country settings.
• Comfortable working in matrix, international organizations with senior stakeholders.

Skills & Capabilities

• Strong strategic thinker who turns market insights into business strategies.
• Ability to evaluate market opportunities, competition, insurer appetite, and feasibility.
• Proven success in business strategy and transformation.
• Commercially savvy with financial understanding.

Leadership & Influence

• Senior presence engaging executives, partners, and country teams.
• Influences across matrix organizations without direct authority.
• Coordinates well across Sales, IT, Operations, and Strategy.
• Makes sound decisions in complex environments.

Personal Qualities

• Analytical and data-driven.
• Clear, concise communicator.
• Collaborative with strong relationship skills.
• High integrity and accountability.

Marsh Risk is a business of Marsh (NYSE: MRSH), a global leader in risk, reinsurance and capital, people and investments, and management consulting, advising clients in 130 countries. With annual revenue of over $27 billion and more than 95,000 colleagues, Marsh helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information about Marsh Risk, visit marsh.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Marsh is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and flexible work environment. We aim to attract and retain the best people and embrace diversity of age, background, disability, ethnic origin, family duties, gender orientation or expression, marital status, nationality, parental status, personal or social status, political affiliation, race, religion and beliefs, sex/gender, sexual orientation or expression, skin color, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Marsh is committed to hybrid work, which includes the flexibility of working remotely and the collaboration, connections and professional development benefits of working together in the office. All Marsh colleagues are expected to be in their local office or working onsite with clients at least three days per week. Office-based teams will identify at least one “anchor day” per week on which their full team will be together in person.