As a claims management and risk services provider within the Arthur J. Gallagher Group, Gallagher Bassett supports insurers and businesses across multiple industries and geographies, with a clear focus on expansion, consolidation and investment as it enters 2026.
Senior leaders from the company’s Europe, Middle East and Asia (EME&A) business outline priorities for the year ahead, as well as the market forces expected to shape the insurance industry over the next 12 months.
Looking back on the past year, Manan Sagar, CEO of Gallagher Bassett Europe, Middle East and Asia, described 2025 as an “unprecedented year of growth and transformation”, noting expansion into the marine and financial businesses, enhanced compliance frameworks and continued improvements to operational capabilities.
Looking ahead, he highlighted the growing role of AI in claims processing, noting that while AI-driven tools bring efficiencies, they also require careful oversight, particularly in the UK, where consumer liability regulations require transparency and strong quality assurance.
“Gallagher Bassett is a thought leader in the use of artificial intelligence for claims processing and will continue to invest in our cutting-edge decision support, automation and workflow tools over the next 12 months,” he noted.
Sagar highlighted the organization’s customer-first approach, adding that every strategic decision is made with a view to achieving strong results, with 2026 expected to be a year of further consolidation, expanded capabilities and expansion into new geographies.
From an operational perspective, Chief Operating Officer John Fearn described the year ahead as one of expanding scope, developing talent and enhancing service delivery. He highlighted the progress of the Legal Solutions sector, noting that Strata Solicitors and Caytons Law were included in the Legal 500 for the first time in late 2025, a recognition he said reflected continued investment in building and expanding legal services.
He further commented: “Gallagher Bassett has built a world-class team of litigators whose expertise spans a wide range of specialist legal matters. The priority for 2026 is to demonstrate what we can do for clients in this area.”
Fearn also noted increasing demand from insurers for specialist legal services that support consistent claims strategies and help control litigation costs, and plans to add more expertise and work towards becoming the UK’s leading full-service insurance legal team. He added: “For the overall operation, I look forward to implementing a modernized claims platform and driving efficiencies. Our customers will soon be able to experience positive results from our forward-thinking systems strategy.”
Within the wider group, Anthony Smith, chief executive of Gallagher Bassett-owned WK Webster & Co Ltd, outlined a continued focus on growth and consolidation in 2026. He said the business would focus on integrating more deeply into the Gallagher Bassett Group, increasing collaboration, sharing knowledge and leveraging the group’s global reach to support portfolio growth.
He added: “Investments over the past 12 months have strengthened our capabilities and, coupled with favorable market conditions, provide WKW with new prospects for 2026.”
He noted that recent investments and supportive market conditions have opened up new opportunities, particularly in the U.S. inland marine market. Smith said that in response to ongoing economic uncertainty related to tariffs and geopolitical developments, insurers and businesses are increasingly looking to expert support to manage supply chain risks.
Smith concluded: “WKW has a dedicated team of fully licensed U.S. claims professionals with decades of experience in property transportation and storage across every major business line and industry. In 2026, we are ready to expand our inland maritime claims management solutions to deliver the most efficient and personalized service on the market.”
