Donald Macdonald

Donald spent his career in the reinsurance business. At various times he was Deputy Chairman of Aon’s UK reinsurance operation, Chairman of Aon Risk Consulting, Head of Marsh’s UK Reinsurance business and Chairman of their African reinsurance operation. He pioneered the use by brokers of digital mapping data to measure the probability and likely magnitude of storm events, and led the development of actuarial models by broking firms. Latterly, he was a prime mover in bringing government and insurers together to address UK flood risk, in what gave rise to Flood Re.

In the mid 90’s Donald co-founded a new UK reinsurance broker which became the foundation of Aon’s UK property reinsurance business. In the early 2000’s he founded an international reinsurance consulting business which was later sold to Willis Group.

In the mid 80’s Donald was captain of the Oxford University rowing team and at the centre of a controversial battle for control which became the subject of a book and made into a film. He has used this experience to give talks to a wide range of groups on leadership and winning in the face of adversity: from investment banks and City law firms to schools, and even the prison service. Through these talks he has raised funds for helping talented young people achieve excellence in education.

Donald is married with four children and lives in London. His interests centre around family and friends, rowing and cycling, music and reading. He has an MA in English from Mansfield College, Oxford.