Kevin Wood – Celebrating 50 years in insurance

Our Chairman, Kevin Wood, is celebrating 50 years in the insurance industry this month with a career founded on personal service and long-standing customer relationships. 

Kevin began his career joining L Wood & Co on 14th  May in 1971 when we were based in Beckett’s Bank Chambers in the centre of Bradford. 

The company, founded in 1960 by Kevin’s father, Leslie Wood,  had just five staff members at the time.

Shortly after joining, Kevin was thrown into the deep end as Leslie had to go for an operation, forcing him to miss work for six months.

Having to help guide the company in his father’s absence, Kevin admits he learned a lot during this period and received support from insurance company managers in Bradford.

“Bradford had dozens of insurers at the time,” said Kevin, speaking about when he first joined.

“Everyone was very friendly and supportive. You had other brokers calling offering their assistance, and could they help in any way. I certainly learned a lot about the industry having to take the reigns.”

Once Leslie had recovered, the two helped grow the business and, in 1980, L Wood acquired  the oldest insurance broker in Yorkshire at the time, A.C. Durant.  

The company continued to go from strength to strength, increasing numbers of staff and two moves to larger premises, including their current home in Bingley.

Kevin’s son, Tom, joined the business in 2001 and helped continue the company’s success before later taking over as Managing Director as Kevin passes on responsibility to the next generation.

“I still really enjoy the work and meeting people,” said Kevin, regarding his passion for the industry that still continues to this day.

“I’m very proud of being able to build our family business and carry on from my father. It also really pleases me to see we still have clients in the wool and textiles industry in Bradford, from back when my father started and the city was the Wool Capital of the World.” 

“As a company, we have forged many longstanding relationships over the years. Some of our oldest clients were actually brought on board by my father. We have quite a few clients who have worked with us for over 40 years.”

Everyone at L Wood & Co would like to congratulate Kevin on half a century in the industry and for his work in building the company into what it is today.