Built on experience, backed by insight, focused on doing right Ryan McBrearty and Ashley Rowe are proving to be a formidable duo, quietly disrupting the local insurance broking scene with a fresh, client-first model that draws on decades of combined experience, not just in broking, but from inside large corporates as well.
Their business sits under the umbrella of The Team, a growing network of professionals offering finance, property and insurance services. The idea to launch a general insurance broking arm was sparked during a conversation between Ryan and Matthew Gardner, one of The Team’s mortgage and finance experts. “
Matthew mentioned the big gap in The Team’s offering was domestic and commercial insurance. His clients were always asking who they could trust. I could see the opportunity straight away,” says Ryan.
In 2023, Ryan took the leap, establishing the division and drawing on a career that began at a locally owned firm, where he first worked alongside Ashley, before moving to one of the country’s largest corporates and later into a pivotal role at Unison.
There, he managed the internal insurance programme across multiple companies and led the customer care division. Each step shaped how Ryan works today. “Inside a business like Unison, I saw firsthand the pressures, the boardroom conversations, the importance of presenting information clearly to get decisions made.
That experience is gold when you go back to broking, because you understand how businesses operate and what really matters to them.” Whether it’s protecting physical assets through tailored business or commercial property insurance, covering potential downtime with business interruption insurance, or safeguarding directors and senior staff with management liability or professional indemnity cover, Ryan takes a more thoughtful, bespoke approach.
“I picked up a new client recently who had no management or professional liability cover. They were exposed, stuck with a generic policy. We took the time to understand their business, negotiated better cover, and saved them money. That’s the difference.”
Ashley Rowe shares the same mindset. After reuniting with Ryan in 2024, he’s hit the ground running. “It’s great to be working with Ryan again. We’re both here to do what’s right for the client, not chase numbers. We take the time, build relationships and front up when it counts,” says Ashley.
Insurance has been Ashley’s world since 1998, when he was introduced to the industry by his late father-in-law, Jim Hurford, a well-known name in the local broking community. “
Jim taught me that this business is about trust, about being there when your clients need you. I’ve carried that with me ever since.” While the industry has evolved, Ashley says the fundamentals haven’t. “Technology is helpful, sure. But when there’s a claim, you don’t want a call centre. You want someone who knows your name, who’s on your side.”
That personal, proactive service is at the heart of what The Team Insurance Brokers offer. By keeping their client base deliberately tight, Ryan and Ashley are able to provide timely advice and tailored solutions across all major insurance needs – from commercial motor and heavy vehicle cover to cyber risk policies and rebuild or property-related protection. They’re also helping clients navigate the increasingly complex insurance landscape, especially as cyber threats rise and rebuild costs surge. “It’s a good time to reassess your insurance.
The market is more competitive than it’s been in years. Often people are overpaying or underinsured, or both. A proper review can make a big difference,”
Ashley says. Together, Ryan and Ashley are building something that reflects both where they’ve come from and what they stand for: experience-backed advice, strong relationships and doing right by the client, every time.
