David Howden: From six staff and a dog to an £87m outfit

Globalisation and the needs of an ever evolving market provided fresh opportunities for David Howden to make millions by selling his insurance products abroad.

David Howden acquired an entrepreneur's ability to navigate major setbacks early in life. Having broken his back at the age of 17 playing rugby, "I decided not to go to university. There was no point if I couldn't play sport". Instead he started working for the family insurance firm, specialising in professional cover against being sued by clients for the likes of lawyers or accountants.

Two years after the City's Big Bang in 1986 the firm was sold to a larger American rival. "At that time the Americans were taking over the city. All the British firms were being bought up." Keen to start his own business but lacking the cash, Howden entered into a joint venture selling professional indemnity (PI) insurance to independent financial advisers (IFAs). It went well, but when his larger partner decided to sell up in 1992, Howden found himself jobless.

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James McKeigue

James graduated from Keele University with a BA (Hons) in English literature and history, and has a certificate in journalism from the NCTJ. James has worked as a freelance journalist in various Latin American countries.He also had a spell at ITV, as welll as wring for Television Business International and covering the European equity markets for the Forbes.com London bureau. James has travelled extensively in emerging markets, reporting for international energy magazines such as Oil and Gas Investor, and institutional publications such as the Commonwealth Business Environment Report. He is currently the managing editor of LatAm INVESTOR, the UK's only Latin American finance magazine.