Gallagher today announced the next cohort of the Gallagher Leaders Scrum, its exclusive leadership and mentoring programme designed to help ambitious business leaders stand out from the competition and break the line.
Launched in 2023, the Gallagher Leaders Scrum brings together senior decision-makers from across the UK for a tailored programme offering exclusive business and rugby prizes to drive long-term growth, performance and value for their businesses. Delivered in partnership with PREM Rugby and Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR), the eight business owners selected as part of the 2026 cohort will have exclusive access to mentors from the world of business and sport, as well as coaching and networking sessions. Winners were selected based on the strength of their responses to various business-focused questions, including how they use their role as a leader to help remove barriers for women within their organisation.
By drawing on lessons from elite sport and high-performing businesses, the initiative helps business leaders sharpen their skills and find their edge — core to navigating an increasingly complex business landscape. Participants will also benefit from specialist guidance and support from Gallagher's extensive network of insurance and risk management professionals based in offices across the UK.
As part of the programme, winners will be rewarded with a VIP package that includes an exclusive business retreat at Estelle Manor, the luxury hotel and country club in Oxfordshire, along with a range of Gallagher PREM and PWR prizes. The experience at Estelle Manor will feature a bespoke panel event, offering practical insights from leading figures across business and sport, including Dragons' Den star Sarah Willingham, former Lioness Jill Scott MBE and Red Roses legend Sarah Hunter CBE, who most recently was part of the coaching staff that triumphed at the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025.
This year's Gallagher Leaders Scrum winners are as follows:
- Adam Baldwin, Senior Managing Counsel at Moloco
- Colin Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer at Sciontec Developments Ltd
- Tom Kiddle, Co-Founder at Stable Payment Solutions Ltd
- Jessica Ashcroft, Finance Director at Holdsworth Foods Ltd
- Sam Delamore, Risk & Compliance Director at The Restaurant Group Plc
- Daniel Buckley, Managing Director at Miracle Design and Play Ltd
- Desmond Taljaard, Deputy Chair at London & Regional Group
- Simon Bird, Chief Executive Officer at Care South
In addition to the Estelle Manor experience, winners will receive hospitality tickets to the 2026 Gallagher PREM final on Saturday 20th June, as well as hospitality tickets to the PWR Final a week later; a signed rugby shirt from a team of their choice; one-to-one business leadership consultations and an additional half-day coaching session with Sarah Willingham to help leaders find their edge and elevate their business; and an exclusive invitation to an elite networking event.
Commenting on the importance and continued success of the Gallagher Leaders Scrum, Nick Harris, CEO of Gallagher's insurance broking business which supports companies across the UK and Ireland, said: "Developing strong, confident leadership has never been more important for UK businesses. The Gallagher Leaders Scrum is about giving leaders the space, support and challenge they need to think differently, learn from one another and build organisations that are fit for the future, and equipped to deal with the unique challenges that might present. We are excited to welcome the next cohort and to work closely with them throughout the programme, drawing on expertise from across Gallagher and our partners at PREM Rugby and PWR to help them turn ambition into action."
Dragons' Den star Sarah Willingham added: "What makes the Gallagher Leaders Scrum so powerful is the openness and curiosity of the leaders who take part. When you bring together people who are willing to learn, be challenged and share their insights in an open and honest way, the impact can be transformational. I am really looking forward to working with Gallagher once again on this initiative, supporting this year's cohort and helping them unlock the next stage of their growth."
Rob Calder, Chief Growth Officer at PREM Rugby, commented: "Elite sport and successful businesses face many of the same challenges — leadership under pressure, sustaining high-performance over time and the need for constant improvement. The Gallagher Leaders Scrum creates a unique environment where those worlds come together, and we are proud to continue our partnership with Gallagher on a programme that delivers real value for business leaders."
