Brokerbility is pleased to announce the appointment of Michelle South as Managing Director of Gauntlet, effective 1 September 2026.

Michelle joins Gauntlet from Brokerbility, where she currently serves as Market Management Director. She brings more than 20 years of experience in the UK general insurance market, having built an extensive career spanning broker distribution, underwriting, operations and market management. Prior to joining Brokerbility, Michelle held a number of senior roles within Aviva’s broker division, covering servicing, sales and distribution. She also spent four years at national broker Willis as Development Director, where she worked closely with the Willis Networks team, supporting brokers such as Gauntlet in growing their businesses.

Her deep understanding of the broker market, combined with her insight into the opportunities and challenges facing independent brokers, positions her strongly to lead Gauntlet through its next phase of development and growth.

The appointment further strengthens Gauntlet’s leadership structure and reinforces its commitment to providing outstanding support, expertise and market access to its Appointed Representative (AR) partners across the UK.

Importantly, Roger Gaunt will remain integral to the business, moving into the role of Executive Director where he will continue to play a key role in shaping Gauntlet’s strategic direction. Roger will increase his focus on driving business growth, expanding the network, and strengthening relationships with clients, while supporting Michelle as she transitions into her new role.

The appointment comes at a pivotal stage in Gauntlet’s development as it continues to strengthen its unique broker lifecycle proposition. Through its Gauntlet Broker Builder programme, Gauntlet supports ambitious insurance professionals in launching and growing their own independent brokerages, creating a clear pathway into the Appointed Representative community. As those businesses mature, Gauntlet provides the expertise, infrastructure and market access needed to support long term growth, while also offering succession opportunities for retiring ARs through the sale of their books of business.

Central to this proposition is Gauntlet's Direct team, which delivers significant organic growth, acts as a natural incubator for future Brokerage Builders and provides a valuable environment for testing new sales initiatives, processes and business development strategies. Together, these capabilities enable Gauntlet to support brokers throughout their entire journey, from start up and growth, through maturity, and ultimately retirement and succession.

Commenting on the changes, John Dunn, Managing Director of Brokerbility, said: “Gauntlet has built an outstanding reputation and a thriving community, and I am incredibly excited about the opportunities ahead. This new structure will allow both Roger and Michelle to focus their full attention on accelerating growth, strengthening our relationships across the market and expanding our Appointed Representative community. Roger’s vision and commitment have been instrumental in shaping Gauntlet’s success, and in his new role as Executive Director he will continue to play a key strategic role while driving the growth of our network. With Michelle leading the business as Managing Director, we have a strong leadership team in place to deliver the next phase of Gauntlet’s growth and development.”

Commenting on her appointment, Michelle South said: “I am delighted to be joining Gauntlet at such an exciting time in its development. Gauntlet has built a strong reputation for supporting ambitious independent brokers, and I am looking forward to working closely with our AR partners, insurer partners and the talented team across the business. Together, we will continue to strengthen the proposition, enhance the support available to our partners and create opportunities for sustainable growth across the network.”

Roger Gaunt added: “Michelle’s appointment is a hugely positive step for Gauntlet. Her extensive market knowledge, leadership experience and understanding of the broker sector make her exceptionally well placed to lead the business. While Michelle takes on responsibility for the day to day leadership of Gauntlet, I remain fully committed to the business and its future. My focus will be on driving strategic growth, developing our network and strengthening the relationships that are so important to our continued success. I am excited to work alongside Michelle as we enter this next chapter.”