Why Marsh UK has Appointed Lisa Quest as its New CEO

Global risk advisory firm Marsh has appointed Lisa Quest to replace Chris Lay as UK CEO amid his plans to retire.

Effective as of April 2026, Lisa will remain Head of UK and Ireland at Oliver Wyman, a Marsh business.

She will report to Flavio Piccolomini, CEO of Marsh’s International Division.

Discussing the new appointment, Flavio says: "With her global leadership experience and management consultancy expertise, which has been honed with many of the world’s leading businesses, Lisa is well-placed to steer our growth as we create and deliver exceptional services that support our UK clients and enable them to continue to thrive.

“Her appointment is testament to the deep bench of talent we have across the firm.”

Lisa will work across Marsh UK’s four primary business units (Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman), with a focus on execution, client impact and the smarter use of data and analytics.

Her background in organisational design, workforce planning and data insights positions her to translate strategy into measurable outcomes for clients.

Turning risks into opportunities

Lisa first joined Oliver Wyman in 2006, returning in 2013 after a period as a private equity investor.

She served as Co-Head of the Government and Public Institutions Practice in Europe before becoming Head of UK and Ireland in 2023. Her background spans organisational design, workforce planning and data analytics, experience she will now apply to a broader risk and insurance mandate.

According to Marsh, Lisa will work with the UK's business CEOs to shape Marsh UK's commercial strategy.

A core priority is the development of data-driven solutions tailored to the needs of organisations across the British economy, bringing together Marsh’s brokerage capabilities and Oliver Wyman’s consulting expertise.

With a focus on strengthening and expanding client relationships across Marsh’s four businesses, she plans to develop innovative, data-driven client solutions that support organisations operating in the UK.

Commenting on her pending role, Lisa says: “The UK is renowned for its creativity, innovation and entrepreneurialism, yet many organisations of all sizes are navigating an increasingly volatile risk landscape.

“I look forward to working with our colleagues and clients as we turn these risks into opportunities and support their future growth.”

Lisa sits on the Canada–UK Chamber of Commerce Board, is a guest lecturer at the London School of Economics’ Centre for Risk and Regulation and is a Member of the Leadership Council at National Numeracy.

She has worked with HM Government on flood risk, resilience and defence financing, and supported the establishment of the National Wealth Fund.

This public sector engagement is expected to inform Marsh’s approach to client delivery in the UK.

Developing a sector-led strategy

Lisa’s combined responsibilities are designed to bring sharper integration between advisory insight and risk placement, reinforcing Marsh’s client-first approach.

The firm is emphasising leadership that is visible to clients, able to mobilise specialist teams quickly and focused on outcomes that improve resilience and capital efficiency.

This move comes as Marsh is advancing a sector-led strategy in the UK, prioritising areas where risk complexity is rising and demand for specialised cover is growing.

One such priority is digital infrastructure. The company has expanded its focus on data centres as construction and capacity investment accelerate, and has scaled offerings through Nimbus, a specialist insurance facility, to US$2.7 billion.

This supports end-to-end needs across build programmes, operations and resilience planning.

The UK business will also concentrate on deeper client collaboration across its four business units, ensuring consistent standards for risk advisory, placement and claims advocacy.

Data and analytics will be used to benchmark coverage, price and retentions, helping organisations make informed trade-offs as they navigate a more volatile risk environment.