Expansion for Wilby with Ainley’s merger

WILBY has merged with fellow Yorkshire insurance broker Ainley’s.

Halifax-based Wilby has also appointed four new members of staff and taken on an undergraduate from the University of Huddersfield following the tie-up with Huddersfield-based Ainley’s.

Wilby now employs more than 60 staff and Geoff Otty and Ian McCaul, who set up Ainley’s 22 years ago, will be based from Wilby’s office with the rest of their team.

Mr McCaul said: “Our companies are ideally matched and by joining forces with Wilby our increased size ensures that we will be able to continue to offer the very best service for our clients going forward.”

In addition to the merger, Wilby have also appointed four new staff members across different areas of the business.

Kevin Barrett joins as a risk management consultant, Caroline Gunning as a corporate account handler, Caroline Reynolds as a scheme account handler and Paul Stanislawski-Doyle as a personal lines broker.

Undergraduate Sarah Gibson has joined the firm’s marketing team as part of her business studies degree under a placement agreement. 

Richard Blackburn, Wilby’s managing director, said: “The merger with Ainley’s and the appointment of new staff members in key areas of the business highlights our continued growth as one of the foremost independent insurance brokers in the region and we believe that the experience and knowledge that these appointments bring can help us to continue this growth in the future.”