MEET THE TEAM
MEET THE TEAM
At MB&G Insurance, our people are at the core of everything we do. We support businesses with clear, commercially focused advice and tailored insurance solutions designed to protect operations and enable growth.
Combining technical expertise with a practical understanding of risk, our team works closely with dealers and retailers to deliver responsive service, strategic insight and long term value.
Get to know the specialists behind MB&G Insurance.
Paul Smith
Managing Director
Paul is a highly experienced financial services professional who originally qualified as a lawyer. He spent 20 years building one of the UK’s largest underwriting agencies, later sold to Primary Group in 2009 after an MBO. A founder in the development of compliance firm Thistle Initiatives, Paul became full-time MD of MB&G in 2020 and has since led the business’s rapid evolution into an automated claims resolution and data-driven solutions provider for medium and large retailers.
Rob Clark
Chief Financial Officer
Rob has worked in Retail and Retail Financial Services since qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1991. He has been involved in successful retail MBO’s at both Powerhouse and Dreams and has led or been integral to various acquisitions and disposals of retail, financial services and manufacturing businesses. Rob became full time FD of MB&G in 2016 and has overseen significant growth and transformation into a professional business.
Rachel Scollins
Head of Operations
Rachel joined MB&G early 2025 after nearly 20 years in Operations at AA Insurance Services, where she focused predominantly on Insurance lines within Sales, Service and Retention. She oversees the day-to-day of Sales, Retention, Claims Handling, and Customer Relationship functions. Rachel works closely with external partners to enhance service delivery, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive continuous improvement.
Linda Laurie
Head of Comliance
Linda provides strategic oversight of regulatory compliance, governance and assurance to support growth in a regulated environment. With 30 years’ experience in financial services, she oversees FCA compliance and leads the integrated ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 Management System, embedding Three Lines of Defence, strengthening third-party risk management, and delivering data-driven Board assurance.
Julie Birrell
Head of Project Implementation
Formerly our Head of Finance, Julie provides strategic leadership across our major projects including system upgrades, automation, and customer‑journey improvements. With 20+ years’ experience and PRINCE2 training, she delivered automated bordereaux production with Evosuite enhancements, as well as API integrations with major repairers and dealers.
Danny Robertson
Head of Field Sales
Danny is a highly experienced Sales & Account Manager with over 20 years in the motor trade. He began as a panel beater apprentice before moving into car sales, progressing to GSM for Vauxhall, where he spent 12 years. After a short spell with BMW, he joined MB&G in 2017 as North East Account Manager. Today, he leads our UK Field Sales Team and manages one of the largest motor dealer groups offering our insurance value-added products.
Anna Robinson
HR & Admin Manager
Anna joined MB&G in 2004 as a Claims Handler, gaining valuable operational experience and building strong operational knowledge of the business. In 2017, after completing her CIPD qualification up to and including Level 5, Anna transitioned into Human Resources. Today, she oversees HR operations and administration across the organisation, providing practical, commercially focused support to managers and employees.
Justine Beer
Senior Financial Controller
Justine is an experienced FCCA‑qualified accountant with over 18 years in finance leadership, commercial partnering, and operational management. She has worked across multiple sectors including utilities, manufacturing, oil & gas and professional practice. At MB&G, Justine oversees the day‑to‑day Finance function, including cash management, banking oversight, and underwriter insurance account reconciliations.
Richard Ord
Product Governance Manager
Richard is a leader of regulatory compliance and strengthening data and information security since joining in 2021. He works closely with the Head of Compliance to advance the Integrated Management System aligned to ISO 27001 and ISO 9001, ensuring continued FCA compliance, including Consumer Duty. Richard oversees product governance across distribution channels and maintains the firm’s risk register, supporting strong risk management.
Jonathan Shand
Commerical Partnerships Manager
With over 22 years at MB&G Insurance, Jonathan has extensive experience across warranty, GAP and dealership operations in the motor and leisure sectors. Now our B2B Partnerships Manager, he builds and manages finance and dealer partnerships, oversees onboarding, white-labelling and outsourced sales, and ensures FCA compliance, reporting and commission oversight.
PAUL SMITH
PAUL SMITH
Paul is a highly experienced financial services professional. Originally qualifying as a lawyer, he spent 20 years building up one of the largest underwriting agencies in the UK, owned for a time by Direct Line. He organised an MBO and subsequently sold the business, now known as Bespoke, to the Primary Group in 2009. Having been a key founder in the development of one of the UK’s most successful start-up compliance firms, Thistle Initiatives, he became the full-time MD of MB&G in 2020. In that time, the business has evolved rapidly and now offers a highly automated claims resolution capability, together with a wide range of API and data lake based solutions. The firm now focuses very effectively on finding successful technical answers for medium and large-sized retailers that enable them to build brand value whilst making the most of their customer interactions.
ROB CLARK
ROB CLARK
Rob has worked in Retail and Retail Financial Services since qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1991. He has been involved in successful retail MBO’s at both Powerhouse and Dreams and has led or been integral to various acquisitions and disposals of retail, financial services and manufacturing businesses. Rob became full time FD of MB&G in 2016 and has overseen significant growth and transformation into a professional business.
RACHEL SCOLLINS
RACHEL SCOLLINS
Rachel joined MB&G early 2025 after nearly 20 years in Operations at AA Insurance Services, where she focused predominantly on Insurance lines within Sales, Service and Retention. She oversees the day-to-day of Sales, Retention, Claims Handling, and Customer Relationship functions. Rachel works closely with external partners to enhance service delivery, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive continuous improvement.
LINDA LAURIE
LINDA LAURIE
Linda provides strategic oversight of regulatory compliance, governance and assurance to support growth in a regulated environment. With 30 years’ experience in financial services, she oversees FCA compliance and leads the integrated ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 Management System, embedding Three Lines of Defence, strengthening third-party risk management, and delivering data-driven Board assurance.
JULIE BIRRELL
JULIE BIRRELL
Formerly our Head of Finance, Julie provides strategic leadership across our major projects including system upgrades, automation, and customer‑journey improvements. With 20+ years’ experience and PRINCE2 training, she delivered automated bordereaux production with Evosuite enhancements, as well as API integrations with major repairers and dealers.
DANNY ROBERTSON
DANNY ROBERTSON
Danny is a highly experienced Sales & Account Manager with over 20 years in the motor trade. He began as a panel beater apprentice before moving into car sales, progressing to GSM for Vauxhall, where he spent 12 years. After a short spell with BMW, he joined MB&G in 2017 as North East Account Manager. Today, he leads our UK Field Sales Team and manages one of the largest motor dealer groups offering our insurance value-added products.
ANNA ROBINSON
ANNA ROBINSON
Anna joined MB&G in 2004 as a Claims Handler, gaining valuable operational experience and building strong operational knowledge of the business. In 2017, after completing her CIPD qualification up to and including Level 5, Anna transitioned into Human Resources. Today, she oversees HR operations and administration across the organisation, providing practical, commercially focused support to managers and employees.
JUSTINE BEER
JUSTINE BEER
Justine is an experienced FCCA‑qualified accountant with over 18 years in finance leadership, commercial partnering, and operational management. She has worked across multiple sectors including utilities, manufacturing, oil & gas and professional practice. At MB&G, Justine oversees the day‑to‑day Finance function, including cash management, banking oversight, and underwriter insurance account reconciliations.
RICHARD ORD
RICHARD ORD
Richard is a leader of regulatory compliance and strengthening data and information security since joining in 2021. He works closely with the Head of Compliance to advance the Integrated Management System aligned to ISO 27001 and ISO 9001, ensuring continued FCA compliance, including Consumer Duty. Richard oversees product governance across distribution channels and maintains the firm’s risk register, supporting strong risk management.
JONATHAN SHAND
JONATHAN SHAND
With over 22 years at MB&G Insurance, Jonathan has extensive experience across warranty, GAP and dealership operations in the motor and leisure sectors. Now our B2B Partnerships Manager, he builds and manages finance and dealer partnerships, oversees onboarding, white-labelling and outsourced sales, and ensures FCA compliance, reporting and commission oversight.
How do I get started?
If you need a regulated product distribution solution that is grounded in commercial reality, we’d love to hear from you.