Marsh has appointed Lisa Quest as UK Chief Executive Officer, adding to her current role as Head of UK and Ireland at Oliver Wyman, effective 6 April 2026. She will be based in London and report to Flavio Piccolomini, CEO, International, Marsh.
Quest succeeds Chris Lay, who is retiring from the business after a long career with the firm.
In her expanded role, Quest will work closely with the CEOs of Marsh’s UK businesses to shape and execute the firm’s commercial strategy across the market. Her remit includes strengthening and expanding client relationships across Marsh’s four businesses, as well as accelerating the development of innovative, data-driven solutions to support organisations operating within the UK’s diverse and complex economy.
Quest joined Oliver Wyman in 2006 and, following a period working as a private equity investor, returned to the firm in 2013. She was subsequently appointed Co-Head of the Government and Public Institutions Practice in Europe, before taking on the additional role of Head of UK and Ireland in 2023. Her work draws on extensive global experience, with deep expertise spanning data and analytics, workforce transformation, and organisational design.
Beyond her executive responsibilities, Quest holds several external roles. She sits on the Canada–UK Chamber of Commerce Board, is a guest lecturer at the London School of Economics’ Centre for Risk and Regulation, and serves as a Member of the Leadership Council at National Numeracy. Through these positions, she works closely with HM Government on a range of critical national priorities, including pay equity, defence financing, flood risk and resilience, and has supported the creation of new public-sector bodies, including the National Wealth Fund.
Flavio Piccolomini said Quest’s appointment reflects Marsh’s depth of leadership talent and its focus on delivering value to UK clients.
“With her global leadership experience and management consultancy expertise, which has been honed with many of the world’s leading businesses, Lisa is well-placed to steer our growth as we create and deliver exceptional services that support our UK clients and enable them to continue to thrive,” Piccolomini said. “Her appointment is testament to the deep bench of talent we have across the firm.”
Quest said she was looking forward to supporting clients as they navigate an increasingly challenging risk environment.
“The UK is renowned for its creativity, innovation and entrepreneurialism, yet many organisations of all sizes are navigating an increasingly volatile risk landscape,” she said. “I look forward to working with our colleagues and clients as we turn these risks into opportunities and support their future growth.”
The appointment underscores Marsh’s continued focus on leadership continuity and strategic growth in one of its most significant global markets.
