McGill and Partners, a global specialty insurance and reinsurance broker, announced the appointment of John Barry and Jack Farrell as partners in its Irish specialty broking operation.
New partners bring decades of experience
John Barry joins from WTW, where he spent more than three decades leading the firm’s Financial Lines and Construction Practices. His background includes structuring complex directors‑and‑officers (D&O) programmes for both private and public entities, as well as overseeing professional indemnity, crime and cyber coverage.
Barry also advises funders and government agencies, having acted as an Authority Insurance Advisor on most of Ireland’s public‑private partnership (PPP) projects to date.
Jack Farrell arrives from WTW, having served as the Corporate Broker and Construction Industry Leader. Trained initially as a quantity surveyor, he pivoted to insurance and has accumulated over eleven years of experience delivering advisory, programme design, and placement services for large developers, contractors and funders.
Both men have built reputations for handling large, complex risks across construction and financial lines.
Roles focused on construction and large‑scale risks
Barry will concentrate on financial lines, with particular attention to aviation, insurance due diligence and sizeable property exposures.
Farrell will concentrate on expanding the European property and construction specialty, targeting large and complex risk portfolios.
Their responsibilities include developing single‑project insurance, PPP coverage, and latent defect solutions for contractors and developers.
The Irish office employs over thirty staff.
The firm’s broader European strategy aims to deepen its presence in construction‑related insurance markets, an area where the newcomers have proven expertise.
From a practical standpoint, these hires could mean faster access to tailored coverage for Irish developers grappling with the high costs of latent defects, a risk that often stalls projects.
Clients may also see more detailed advice on cyber and crime exposures, reflecting Barry’s background in those lines.
Leadership comments on the expansion
Stephen Cross, Head of Innovation and Strategy at McGill and Partners, said, “John and Jack have extensive experience in placing insurance for businesses with complex needs and providing high‑level advisory services. Therefore, they are perfectly placed to grow our specialty broking arm in Ireland. We are delighted to have them join our expanding team and look forward to working with them.”
Both appointments come as the firm continues to reinforce its footprint in Ireland and across Europe, signaling confidence in the region’s construction market despite ongoing economic uncertainties.
