Five insurance trailblazers to celebrate on International Men’s Day

Men still occupy most senior roles in underwriting, broking and claims and with that presence comes huge influence.

Men have the power to put in place policies that can nudge cultural change, but leaders who model empathy, allyship and balance are the ones who can truly transform this industry into one that is inclusive.

This International Men’s Day, I’ve decided to celebrate five men who embody modern leadership not through titles, but through their actions.

1. Johnny Timpson OBE

Timpson has spent more than four decades in the insurance industry and engaging with governments to fight for those the sector hasn’t always served well: customers with disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, plus those living with illness, grief, or vulnerability.

He doesn’t talk about “vulnerable customers” as a label to apply, but a relationship to understand. As he puts it: “It’s not about giving people a label. It’s about understanding you, so you are treated as the individual you are.”

Timpson’s influence is everywhere. He is a former member of the Financial Conduct Authority’s Consumer Panel and a founding member of Gain, the Group for Autism, Insurance, Investment and Neurodiversity.

He was awarded an OBE in the 2022 Honours List for his lifetime of activism and is a trailblazer for sharing his own neurodiversity story, making others more confident to share their experiences so that adjustments can be made that allow them to thrive rather than struggle to survive working in insurance.

2. Richard Coleman

Coleman, managing director of Ecclesiastical UK, was one of the first senior general insurance leaders I met when I joined Post who spoke without hesitation about paternity, partnership, and parenting.

He doesn’t just support flexibility, he models it.

“The shadow you cast is something you have to be aware of,” he says.

Coleman consciously shares the mental load at home, recognising the emotional and logistical labour often carried alone by women. He protects time for his family and proudly says he has never missed a parents’ evening and shows up for sports matches even when it means rescheduling.

At work, he normalises conversations about mental health: “I am open in sharing things like mental health challenges in my family, so we make sure diversity and neurodiversity are part of our narrative.”

Men have the power to put in place policies that can nudge cultural change, but leaders who model empathy, allyship and balance are the ones who can truly transform this industry into one that is inclusive.

3. Erik Johnson

Johnson is known for his technical underwriting expertise at Markel, but his impact on insurance culture reaches far beyond his day job.

In 2012, he co-founded Link, the LGBTQ+ Insurance Network, long before corporate Pride campaigns and rainbow lanyards were common. Link has helped thousands in insurance feel less alone and more seen.

He shows that when one person chooses to be visible, others finally feel able to belong.

4. Ajay Mistry

Mistry co-founded iCan, the Insurance Cultural Awareness Network, which is now the largest multicultural network in insurance.

His philosophy is simple and powerful: “Being a role model means showing up boldly, standing for something bigger than yourself, and inspiring others to believe in what’s possible.”

iCan has accelerated career progression for hundreds of people, offered mentoring, and pushed companies to address barriers.

Mistry shows that progress doesn’t come from waiting for the system to change — it comes from challenging it.

5. Mark Lomas

Lomas joined Lloyd’s of London as head of culture at a pivotal moment in the London market’s history.

Surveys of members showed Lloyd’s wanted to change but wasn’t sure how to.

Instead of publishing aspirations, Lomas has built systems.

Drawing on his experience transforming Transport for London’s culture, Lomas has introduced a framework for inclusive recruitment, better measurement of workforce data, easier routes into Lloyd’s for under-represented communities, and a shift from “awareness raising” to accountability.

In a recent interview with Post, Lomas said: “Inclusion doesn’t happen because we talk about it. It happens because we design for it.”

Lomas brings discipline and delivery to diversity and inclusion.

Men matter

These men matter because insurance needs more male leaders who are confident and capable of using their influence to open doors for others.

These five men demonstrate leadership through their advocacy, listening, and willingness to share their own stories for the benefit of others.

I am sure some of you are wondering why am I bothering to mark International Men’s Day or highlight male role models in a male-dominated industry.

Why? Because diversity and inclusion aren’t just about women pushing harder - it is about men stepping forward differently too.

If these five leaders represent the future of insurance, then the future looks more inclusive for everyone.