Lockton appoints ex-Gallagher leader as major accounts placement director

Lockton has appointed Louise Piper as placement director within its major accounts business as it continues to invest in senior client leadership roles.

Piper will join the broker on 1 September 2026 and be responsible for supporting large corporate clients with placement strategy and insurance programme oversight.

The role will see her work closely with client service and leadership teams to align insurance placements with business objectives, while helping clients navigate changing market conditions.

Lockton said the appointment forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen its support for major corporate clients through senior market-facing appointments.

Luke Withers, partner at Lockton, said: “This is the latest high profile investment by Lockton in a senior client leadership position, with a particular focus on cross-class broking and placement strategy. The aim is to ensure our largest clients have an experienced and direct point of contact, close to their risk, who is advocating for them in the market, taking a holistic approach to risk and placement strategy in an evolving and complex risk landscape and securing the best possible outcome for their total insurance spend.

“We are currently operating in a favourable insurance market, so premium reductions are expected. Beyond this, our focus is on creating opportunities for clients to secure broader coverage, enhanced terms and greater long-term value. Our role is to help clients take full advantage of current market conditions while ensuring they are well-positioned for future changes. A key part of this is maximising the leverage of portfolio-wide spend and strategic market relationships.”

Experience

Piper joins the broker with more than 20 years of market experience gained across both broking and insurer roles.

Most recently, Piper was head of strategic client management at Gallagher. Her career has also included senior positions at Aviva, Axa XL, WTW and Marsh.

Piper said: “I’m incredibly excited to be joining the major accounts team at Lockton, a company renowned for its innovative culture and client-focused outlook.

”The opportunity to match the significant scale and reputation of Lockton in the market with a highly entrepreneurial and client-focused culture was one that I couldn’t miss. I look forward to supporting the team as they continue to develop and build the major account strategy and grow the client relationships central to Lockton’s approach.”