Our story

Our back story is a living example of our authenticity. There’s no fluff, it’s not a fairy tale and we’re anything but liberal with the truth. It’s honest, bold and deliberately open. It’s us, being us. We’re proud to show the world who we are and what makes us Aventum. And we can’t wait to create the next chapter.

In 1996, a young David Bearman, armed with an infectious belief that he could do things better, propelled Direct Insurance (as we were called back then), into the highly competitive world of insurance from a rented office in East London. It was a brave decision that has come to define David’s and Aventum’s approach to business. Direct Insurance was the very definition of a challenger; an underdog, hell bent on playing in the big leagues. It was a label that we revelled in and one we still hold close today.

The journey began with a focus on specialty insurance; a trait that remains core to Aventum years later. Indeed it was within the underserved, high-risk segments of the market where we first glimpsed an opportunity to do things better, such as the Asbestos and Recycling industries. In these areas we quickly established a reputation for both unparalleled service and razor-sharp attention to detail.

“Where others see difficulty, we see challenge and an opportunity to do things better”

David Bearman, CEO

Next came our venture into the wholesale insurance space. Like many other retail brokers, we too had experienced years of poor service. But, unlike many, we did something about it. In 2005 we boldly launched our first ever insurance scheme and took it to market. Built upon our own deep understanding of what retail brokers need from their wholesale partners, the scheme performed incredibly well and became the launch-pad for a wider, service-focused portfolio of specialist insurance products, culminating in the creation of Consilium Insurance Brokers; a fully accredited ‘Broker at Lloyd’s’, London, since 2013.

Since then, the Group has gone on to form a series of niche, global (re)insurance and broking businesses including the global managing general agent (MGA), Rokstone, which now writes in excess of $1.5bn in annual premium. Today, the Aventum Group provides specialty (re)insurance solutions across our global network of offices, trading across six continents and we continue to expand our global reach and service offering.

Just like the beginning, we remain relentless in our determination to find new ways to innovate, disrupt and be the very best. We are permanently looking for the next challenge and an opportunity to do things better.

This is just the beginning.

AVENTUM’S TIMELINE

  • Formed as a new startup specialist commercial broker - Direct Insurance Agency Ltd, occupying a small rented office in Chadwell Heath, Essex

  • Continued growth resulted in a move from Chadwell Heath to larger office with room for expansion on Billericay High Street

  • The first wholesale steps were taken with the launch of our first specialty liability binder for asbestos removers, backed by QBE

  • Having grown a book of Waste & Recycling business, we launched a wholesale scheme catering for material damage and business interruption into the UK Broker market

  • A lack of service led wholesale brokers presented a gap in the market for us to form Direct Insurance London Market, a Lloyd’s Broker in Lime Street, EC3

  • Our first venture into online, quote and bind business saw the launch of iSure Underwriting, Ireland’s leading SME MGA

  • Launched ConsiliumRe, our international (re)insurance broker initially catering for Latam business

  • Launch of Rokstone Underwriting in Marine Liability, Property D&F & Terrorism, Aura Underwriting, London’s largest Carribbean CAT facility and iFarm Underwriting

  • Launch of Novus Underwriting, a leading global warranty and GAP business

  • Launch of Rokstone Construction Risk Underwriters in the US and expansion into Property Treaty

  • Rokstone D&F breaks $100m GWP and launches International Construction. Rokstone Construction Risk Underwriters enters US General Liability Market with HDI Global Specialty S.E.

  • Rokstone launches Middle East hub and expands into International Aviation. Opens African hub in Mauritius to access regional distribution. iSure receives Central Bank of Ireland direct authorisation. Novus opens Brussels office to access European markets following Brexit.

  • Consilium expands its footprint into South East Asia, operating out of Hong Kong. Rokstone Construction Risk Underwriters enters Wood Frame Market backed by Allianz North America on their admitted paper.

  • Rokstone launch new lines including Aviation, Marine Cargo, US Owners’ Interest and launch Rokstone Agriculture in the US. Consilium launches new platform eXponential, designed to revolutionise delegated underwriting authority broking for MGAs. Employee headcount rises to over 350.

  • Rokstone launch Sports & Prize Indemnity, D&O and PI. Consilium joins PIMFA. Opened new offices in the US, Guernsey and Singapore. Employee headcount rises to over 400.

An award winning group

    “I wanted to become a part of an inspiring international group working with people who are passionate about what they do. It is refreshing to be able to contribute to the growth of a modern, values-driven group that has a significant impact on the market.”

    April Faint

    Brand & Marketing Director

    “I was really excited to be given an opportunity at Aventum. I find the company innovative and inspiring, but most of all, you are not just a number. People really matter here and it is felt throughout your work day.”

    Kerry Hurst

    Group HR Operations Manager

    “With so many mergers in the London market, having the opportunity to join a diverse, complex and technically challenging independent broker, with an increasing brand and MGA portfolio, was an invigorating opportunity to contribute and add value in a unique environment, introducing a fresh approach to the DUA space.”

    Andrew Bajcar

    Senior Digital Designer

An award winning group