Besso non-executive chairman Colin Bird is gradually stepping back from the business, co-CEO Robert Dowman told this publication.
The former Besso CEO will continue to carry out his chairing duties in a non-executive capacity for the foreseeable future, and will retain that role after 28 February, when his day-to-day involvement in the company will be scaled back.
Dowman added: “Colin has been a driving force behind Besso and it provides great comfort to us all to know that we still rely on his invaluable input.”
In May last year, Bird relinquished his executive responsibilities to become non-executive chairman.
He was CEO of the broker until January 2017 when the business was acquired by BGC, at which point Robert Dowman and Russell Nichols became joint CEOs.
Before joining Besso, Bird served as CEO of Alexander Howden's North American division and was a director on the company's board.
He began his career in 1963 as a junior clerk with CE Heath and also worked at broker Swann & Everett.
Besso’s parent BGC agreed to acquire Ed Broking in October last year for an amount understood to be within the $90mn-$100mn range.
Ed CEO Steve Hearn will run BGC’s insurance operations, including Besso, once the acquisition is complete, but the two brokers are to be run separately with no cost synergies.
