Howden plans to acquire Barnett Waddingham, doubling employee benefits business

Howden has announced its acquisition of Barnett Waddingham, a UK consultancy specializing in risk, pensions, investment, and insurance, aimed at creating a significant global player in employee benefits. This move will double Howden's global employee benefits workforce to approximately 4,000 experts and enhance its combined revenue to nearly £500 million. The acquisition will allow Howden to offer a comprehensive range of advisory services to corporate clients, including multinational corporations and SMEs, while also providing individual health and pension products. David Howden, CEO of Howden, emphasized the need for a world-class employee benefits business and highlighted the cultural alignment between the two firms as a key factor in the partnership. The combined entity will employ over 10,000 people across more than 200 locations in the UK, significantly increasing Howden's presence in the market. Barnett Waddingham's senior partner, Andrew Vaughan, expressed enthusiasm for joining Howden, citing shared values and the potential for enhanced service delivery.