Balens announce new Joint Managing Directors
Specialist Health and Wellbeing Insurance Brokers
Balens Ltd have announced that Joe Balen and Josh Balen are now Joint Managing Directors of the company. The move comes as former Managing Director, David Balen, moves to the position of Chairman.
Founded in 1950 by David Balen's parents, Balens Ltd is one of the market leaders in providing insurance solutions within the Health, Fitness, Beauty and Wellbeing sectors. The business grew organically over the years, based on its ethos of offering excellent customer care, and now employs 76 members of staff at their UK and Dutch offices, looking after over 90,000 clients. They provide cover to clients in the UK, Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands and many other countries.
David Balen, a third-generation Insurance Broker and Advisor, led the company from 1981 and has long championed the role of complementary therapies for health and wellbeing. He is currently Chair of Trustees of the education-based charity, the
College of Healing, and is involved with the Policy Making Group of the Self-Regulatory Body, UK Healers. A trained healer and Yoga teacher, David is also a Trustee of the Confederation of Healing Organisations and a Trustee of the British Holistic Medical Association.
Commenting on his new role as Chairman, David Balen says:
“I still have a lot of energy and enthusiasm for life and am grateful for my journey so far. This business has provided me with a richness of experience and the opportunity to meet and work with so many interesting, skilled and talented people and I am looking forward to that continuing. I am proud of Joe and Josh and all the excellent work they have done over the years in helping to build the business by my side, and I am fully confident that they will continue to run the business with the ethos and values that have enabled us to flourish over the years.”
Joe Balen joined the third generation family business over 20 years ago, making it a fourth generation family business and he became the Affinity Schemes Manager in 2003. The Affinities department services over 400 Associations who run customised insurance schemes through Balens, he became a Director of the company in 2011.
On his new role as Joint Managing Director Joe Balen says:
“In the last few years, myself and Josh have been closely involved in all the company's operations, so there will not be any big change in the way we operate and we will continue to run Balens based on the company's founding principles of doing our very best for our clients whilst not being driven by financial gain only. I personally have proudly watched our company grow from just one member of staff at a home-based office into a global brand with 76 staff and have thoroughly enjoyed the journey and challenges we have faced over the years. I am looking forward to the next chapter of Balens.”
He adds:
“David has put everything into the business, working long hours through the passion for what he does with a work ethic that was instilled in him by his father and then passed on to myself and Josh. Amongst other things, he will be taking more time to do the things that he enjoys, such as his music, teaching and gardening. He will also be developing his ambassadorial and training role for Balens and continuing to develop the
Hawthorn big data research project for the Health and Wellbeing movement.”
Josh Balen joined the business in 2003, becoming a Director in 2014, overseeing the company's Commercial Department and tailoring policies to meet clients' requirements as their businesses grow. Josh has been instrumental in developing the overseas business in South Africa, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Malta and France, establishing the opening of the company's Amsterdam office in 2014, which will shortly become the company's EU hub following Brexit.
In his new role as Joint Managing Director Josh Balen notes:
“I feel privileged to be part of such a successful and important company in our very specialist field. David, along with myself and Joe, has created and evolved something for all of us to be very proud of and which looks out for and cares for our staff, clients and the industry worldwide. I am confident that Joe and I, with the help and support of our wonderful management team and staff here will keep the business moving forward, ensuring the ethos and energy are carried on into the future.”
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