FORTY Under 40: Simone Grant

Simone Grant, vice president – senior account manager, Marsh.

Grant, a qualified accountant with an MBA, started her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Barbados as an auditor and worked her way up to senior accountant before joining Marsh in 2012. There she got her first real introduction to captive insurance, a field she’s grown passionate about ever since. Over the years, Grant has taken on various roles, including serving as a director on two captive insurance boards.

Now based in London, she manages a diverse portfolio of clients across different industries. Her work depends a lot on close collaboration across borders with teams both onshore and offshore. She’s worked in several domiciles, moving from Barbados to Bermuda in 2019 and is currently transitioning to the Isle of Man domicile while continuing to be based in London.

Away from work, Grant loves cooking – it’s her way to stay connected to her island roots and share a piece of home with family and friends in the UK. She’s also recently become a big Star Trek fan, drawn to the show’s themes of tolerance and working with people who see the world differently. Grant credits much of her professional success to the incredible teams and mentors she’s had at Marsh, without whom this nomination wouldn’t be possible.

Looking back at your journey over the past year, what accomplishment are you most proud of, and how has becoming a FORTY Under 40 finalist influenced your perspective on that achievement?

I’m most proud of being selected to support an additional domicile – the Isle of Man – while still being based in London. This will be the third domicile I have worked in, and each experience has meant adapting and being flexible to different ways of working across various regulatory and cultural environments. These experiences have helped me grow in leading teams and managing clients across borders.

Becoming a FORTY Under 40 finalist feels like a real validation of my choice to stay open to new ideas and opportunities, even when they push me out of my comfort zone. It’s also a reminder of how important the support from my teams and mentors has been – because I know I couldn’t have done it without them.

What key challenge did you face in your work this year? How did you overcome it and what did it teach you about leadership at this stage of your career?

I’ve always been comfortable being the “invisible hand” behind the scenes, making sure everything runs smoothly – not because I lack confidence, but because that’s where I prefer to be. However, this year I challenged myself to step out of that comfort zone and be more visible. One highlight was co-leading a session at the biennial Captive Essentials Seminar here in London.

Taking on the role of speaker pushed me to put key leadership skills into practice – especially around learning, collaboration, and communication. Working closely with my co-presenters from Dublin and the Isle of Man, we explored “The role of the captive manager”, which gave me valuable insights into the different regulatory frameworks in those domiciles. This experience deepened my appreciation for cross-border teamwork and the importance of understanding diverse regulatory environments. It also gave me a chance to tap into my creative side – I even threw in a few captive-themed corny jokes to keep the session engaging!

This experience taught me that leadership isn’t just about being front and centre; it’s about knowing when to step forward and when to support from behind. At this stage in my career, I’m learning that being visible and vulnerable can open doors to new opportunities and stronger connections, both with clients and colleagues.

“Leadership isn’t just about being front and centre; it’s about knowing when to step forward and when to support from behind.”

In what ways have you tried to push innovation or rethink traditional approaches within your sector, and what impact has that had on your team or organisation?

For me, pushing innovation doesn’t have to be about big, flashy changes. It’s often the small things that make the biggest difference – like finding better ways for our teams across different domiciles to work together and serve our clients more smoothly. Since I manage clients across Barbados, Bermuda and the Isle of Man, I’ve learned how important it is to stay curious and flexible when dealing with different regulations and ways of working.

Within my teams, I encourage trying out small experiments – testing new ways to improve hand-offs between onshore and offshore teams or streamline workflows. These little trials have helped us cut down on rework and free up time to focus on what really matters. The result is a team that’s more connected, agile, and open to new ideas.

At the end of the day, pushing innovation for me is about creating a space where everyone feels comfortable sharing ideas and trying new things, knowing that learning and collaboration are just as important as the outcome.

How do you see your role evolving over the next three to five years, and what initiatives are you most excited to pursue as you continue to grow professionally?

Over this period, I’m really excited about the opportunities the UK captive regime is bringing. Being involved at the very start of captive legislation in a new domicile opens so many possibilities for growth and innovation. I’m looking forward to helping expand our UK captive team and working closely with other Marsh captive leaders to make this initiative a real success.

As my role evolves, I want to keep pushing cross-border collaboration and finding new ways to support our clients and teams across different domiciles. I’m also keen to continue growing as a leader – mentoring others and driving practical innovations. It’s an exciting time, and I’m ready to take on the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Many of the FORTY Under 40 winners are recognised for both business success and broader impact — how do you balance professional excellence with contributions to your community or industry landscape?

For me, balancing work and giving back is all about staying connected to what really matters. I always make sure to join Marsh’s annual volunteer day – it’s a great way to step away from the day-to-day grind and remember the bigger picture. I also support causes through my local church with regular donations, which helps me stay grounded and connected to my community.

On top of that, spending time with family and friends is what keeps me balanced and recharged. Having that support outside of work makes me a better professional because I come back with fresh energy and perspective. It’s all about finding that mix of giving back, staying close to the people I care about, and bringing my best self to everything I do.

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