IFSDG: How long have you worked at Towergate
Partnership?
Alan McEwan:Since we acquired my previous
company, Warren Hill, in 2003.
IFSDG: How many people work at Towergate
Partnership?
Alan McEwan: 100 in Glasgow, 250 across my
region (Scotland and the North East) and over 4,000 across our 100+
UK offices.
IFSDG: What is your vision for Towergate
Partnership in Glasgow?
Alan McEwan: To capitalise on our position as
Europe's largest independently owned intermediary by establishing
Towergate as a major force and the broker of choice in the Scottish
market.
IFSDG: What's a typical day for you?
Alan McEwan: Balancing emails, reports and
meetings with making sure I am always talking to my team. Towergate
has a fast paced and high performance culture so the leadership and
direction has to be clearly visible.
IFSDG: How many emails do you receive on an
average day?
Alan McEwan: Probably around 100 but net of
junk about 30 to 40 a day that I need to read.
IFSDG: Why did Towergate Partnership choose to
locate in central Glasgow?
Alan McEwan: The businesses we acquired over
the past couple of years were dotted around the city so it was
vital that we took the opportunity to consolidate in the heart of
the marketplace and the IFSD was the number one box on my tick
list. It's where I started my career and I still believe Glasgow is
a vibrant insurance centre that will benefit from a strong
Towergate presence.
IFSDG: Three good things about working in
Glasgow?
Alan McEwan: The wine, the women and the
songs.
IFSDG: What is your biggest business
achievement to date?
Alan McEwan: I've had a few satisfying moments
(and a few scary ones), but growing both the size and profitability
of our business in spite of the current recession is hugely
challenging and equally satisfying. We can only do that by
recruiting and developing the best people, focusing on the changing
needs of our clients and delivering exceptional service.
IFSDG: What is the best investment you ever
made?
Alan McEwan: I can tell you my worst - never
buy a 4x4 in a boom then sell it in a recession.
IFSDG: Which business person or company do you
most admire and why?
Alan McEwan: Obviously Towergate's founder and
chairman, Peter Cullum! I also admire the style and values of
Richard Branson.
IFSDG: What did you want to be when you were a
child?
Alan McEwan: A footballer, then a rock star,
then when I needed to actually earn a living, an insurance
broker.
IFSDG: What do you do to relax away from the
office?
Alan McEwan: With two boys of 7 and 3 I don't
get to relax but the weekends are certainly entertaining.
IFSDG: Blackberry or I-Phone?
Alan McEwan: Blackberry - iphones are for
teenagers.
IFSDG: Suit or no suit?
Alan McEwan: Suit mostly, but the tie comes off
most days.
IFSDG: Football or rugby?
Alan McEwan: Definitely football - not posh
enough for rugby.
IFSDG: Wine or beer?
Alan McEwan: Red wine, rosé in the sun and beer
if the boys are reading this.
IFSDG: Sunshine or snow?
Alan McEwan: Sunshine.
IFSDG: And finally, what three words to sum you
up
Alan McEwan: Positive, pragmatic and
professional