Case Study: Consolidating a complex international insurance portfolio

How we helped an Executive Assistant streamline a complex global insurance programme with one renewal date and one point of contact.

Executive Assistants (EAs) and Personal Assistants (PAs) often manage far more than diaries and logistics - they protect every detail of their principal’s world. When insurance portfolios become fragmented across brokers, countries, and renewal cycles, the administrative burden can grow quickly, leaving time poor EAs and PAs juggling unnecessary complexity. This case study demonstrates how Howden Private Clients supported an EA struggling with a disjointed, international insurance programme, reducing workload and strengthening protection through expertise and hands on service.

Background

An Executive Assistant was responsible for managing their principal’s fragmented and increasingly unmanageable insurance portfolio. Policies were held with multiple brokers, across different countries, with misaligned renewal dates and varying levels of cover.

The portfolio included:

• UK and international homes
• Multiple high value vehicles
• Jewellery and personal collections
• Additional luxury assets

The EA was spending time coordinating between brokers, navigating conflicting requirements, whilst ensuring nothing fell through the cracks.

The Challenge

The EA faced:

• Disjointed administration: Policies renewing at different times, through different brokers and insurers, each with their own processes.
• Lack of oversight: No single, consolidated view of exposures or gaps.
• Increased workload: Chasing valuations, updates, statements, and claim information across multiple parties.
• Risk requirement gaps: Insurers expected certain security measures, but the EA lacked time to source compliant solutions.

The EA needed a partner who could simplify the entire structure without compromising cover.

Our Approach

We undertook a full review of the principal’s insurance across all territories, identifying where policies could be aligned, strengthened, and consolidated.

1. A single insurer

We placed the entire portfolio with a single insurer capable of covering all properties, vehicles, and assets under one coordinated programme. This delivered:

• One renewal date
• One set of policy terms
• A coordinated strategy

2. A single point of contact

The EA now works directly with a dedicated Howden account manager for all adjustments, claims, and day-to-day queries. This removed the administrative burden of dealing with multiple brokers and insurers.

3. Specialist risk support

Insurers required a certified safe that met strict security standards. We leverage our trusted network to:

• Source a security provider
• Arrange installation
• Ensure compliance with insurer requirements

This saved the EA time and provided certainty the requirements were met correctly.

4. Ongoing Renewal Management

We now manage the renewal process annually, going to market in the EA’s behalf. This reduces administrative involvement and ensure the principal’s cover remains correct, competitive, and up to date – without the EA needing to coordinate multiple parties.

The Outcome

The EA now benefits from a streamlined, expertly managed insurance programme that supports their role rather than complicating it. We delivered:

• A significant reduction in administration
• Clear oversight across all risks and assets
• Enhanced protection with no gaps
• Smoother insurer relationships and future renewals
• Professional reassurance for both the EA and the principal

Key take-away

With Howden Private Clients acting as an extension of their support team, the EA can focus on their principal’s priorities - while we ensure their lifestyle, assets, and properties remain seamlessly protected.