Legrand Joins Broker MDS as COO to Expand International Business

MDS Holdings, the European and Latin American insurance brokerage group, announced that Jacqueline Legrand has joined the firm as Chief Operating Officer and Board director. She will be responsible for guiding the MDS’ expansion into new international markets outside of its current Portuguese, Angolan and Brazilian territories.

Legrand brings 20 years of experience to MDS, mostly in the insurance brokerage industry, with “strong expertise in global insurance programs. She worked most recently at Frank Crystal & Company in New York where she managed its international activities. In 2009 she was also appointed COO North America for BrokersLink, one of the largest broker networks in the world.”

Prior to joining Frank Crystal, Legrand held various senior management positions in the insurance and IT industries in France including Théorème and IBM.

MDS Chairman José Manuel Fonseca stated: “The broad expansion of our international footprint is highly strategic for our group and it is where we have decided to focus our energy and efforts. Jacqueline brings a fantastic experience in international operations management and with her expertise and personal drive; she will greatly contribute to build the next chapter of MDS development.”

The bulletin also explained that MDS SGPS “is the insurance and risk management joint-venture of Portuguese and Brazilian conglomerates Sonae and Suzano. The fast growing business spans retail, wholesale and reinsurance broking and is based on a strategy focused on strong growth and internationalization.

“In retail and risk consulting, MDS Holdings is present in Portugal and Brazil. In the reinsurance arena, MDS holds 26.3 percent of Cooper Gay, Swett & Crawford’s shares, which is the biggest independent wholesale and reinsurance broker in the world.”

Source: MDS

Topics Agencies