MAM
Howden harnesses the collective power of its global broking operations under a new brand
Mumbai: Howden, the global insurance group, today unveils a new brand as it brings together its global broking operations under one name.
The rebrand follows Howden’s announcement in April that it would unify and simplify its business structure under a single, aligned global executive, with insurance broking, reinsurance broking and underwriting reporting directly to David Howden, CEO.
Howden CEO David Howden commented, “As we unveil our new brand and enter our 30 years, we are excited to mark this new chapter for Howden. I am incredibly proud of what we’ve built. The Howden brand will be represented by 15,000 people in 50 countries, not only capturing the scale of the firm’s operations for millions of clients but also, with a fresh and dynamic visual approach, expressing their collective difference.
“By remaining true to our founding principles of independence, employee ownership, expertise, friendship and trust, we have created a company owned and run by the people who work in it. We have the architecture in place, and by continuing to bring the best insurance expertise to our clients, we can now unlock further opportunities for growth through the power of a single global brand.
“As we move forward at scale our focus is firmly on harnessing our collective power, attracting talent and aligned businesses and putting our people first. By investing in our infrastructure and empowering our experts to do their best for our clients, we can show the force for good we know insurance can be.
“We act for clients ranging from individuals to the largest global corporations, spanning the full spectrum of local, speciality and international (re)insurance. We now have a brand that shows all we have to offer our customers. It reflects who we are.
“Our go-to-market strategy is simple; we are committed to acting as one business, bringing the full force of all our experts, regardless of specialism or geography, for the benefit of our clients. That way, with transparency and trust, I can promise that all our stakeholders get the very best of us.
Howden India CEO Amit Agarwal said, “As we move forward, we are consolidating our collective strength under a single, powerful umbrella, fostering innovation, efficiency, and outstanding value for our clients. We will work together to build a future in which Howden is a beacon of excellence, setting new industry standards and providing great customer experiences. We are committed to fostering a culture in which every individual, working with us, is not just acknowledged, but also celebrated. Performance excellence gets enlivened by this culture of empowerment and respect”.
As of today, Howden’s Indian operations span seven offices and over 300 employees with specialist expertise servicing local clients. India is one of the world’s fastest-growing insurance markets and Howden’s aspiration is to become a top three broker in the country by 2026, building on its solid reputation as a specialised commercial intermediary. Howden’s focus is to continue to build out its capabilities and invest in local expertise, including reinsurance, for the benefit of its Indian and multinational clients.
Brands
AI becomes key tool for Indian travellers, Agoda report finds
68 per cent plan to use AI for trips as 33 per cent already rely on it.
MUMBAI: Holiday planning is getting a software upgrade less “Where should we go?” and more “What does the algorithm say?” Indian travellers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to map their journeys, with new data from Agoda’s 2026 Travel Outlook Report suggesting that AI is fast becoming central to how trips are imagined, planned and booked.
While 33 per cent of respondents said they already use AI tools for travel planning, a far larger 68 per cent indicated they are likely to rely on it for their next trip pointing to a sharp acceleration in adoption in a market already comfortable with digital-first travel.
What travellers want from AI, however, goes well beyond basic search. The report shows 38 per cent are looking for recommendations on local attractions and activities, while 37 per cent expect personalised itineraries. Destination discovery remains a key use case at 29 per cent, with dining suggestions (23 per cent) and budget management (22 per cent) also emerging as practical applications.
The shift reflects a broader change in expectations AI is no longer a novelty but a planning companion expected to work across every stage of the journey, from inspiration to execution.
Trust levels appear to be keeping pace. Nearly 88 per cent of respondents said they either trust or feel neutral about AI-generated recommendations, including 53 per cent who expressed clear confidence. This builds on earlier trends, with Agoda’s 2025 survey showing nine in ten Indian travellers already using apps to book travel suggesting AI adoption is more evolution than disruption.
The company has been testing this appetite through initiatives such as its 2025 AI-powered Vacation Planner campaign, which generated customised itineraries and visuals based on user inputs, delivered with a layer of celebrity-led engagement.
For platforms like Agoda, which aggregates more than 6 million properties, over 130,000 flight routes and 300,000 travel activities, AI offers a way to navigate scale without overwhelming users turning abundance into relevance.
As AI continues to embed itself into everyday decision-making, India is emerging as a market where travel planning is not just going digital, but decisively intelligent.
