News Article
Market People Awards 2026 Delivers a Spectacular Parisian Celebration in the Heart of the City of London
Market People Awards 2026 Delivers a Spectacular Parisian Celebration in the Heart of the City of London
More than 320 guests gathered at Guildhall for the 9th annual Market People Awards, celebrating outstanding talent, leadership, innovation and contribution across the Lloyd's and London Insurance Market.
London, 29 June 2026 - The Market People Awards 2026, produced and hosted by LMF - London Market Forums, brought together more than 320 guests on Wednesday 17 June 2026 for a spectacular evening of celebration at the historic Guildhall in the City of London.
Now in its ninth year, the Market People Awards has become one of the most anticipated events in the London Insurance Market calendar. The 2026 ceremony celebrated exceptional individuals, teams, firms and supplier partners who continue to make the Lloyd's and London Insurance Market one of the world's most respected and successful insurance communities.
Further information, highlights and the full winners list are available at Market People Awards
A Parisian Celebration of Market Excellence
Set against a dazzling Parisian glamour and Moulin Rouge-inspired theme, this year's Market People Awards delivered an unforgettable evening of entertainment, fine dining, recognition and networking.
From the moment guests arrived at the Gala Drinks Reception, the atmosphere was electric. Guildhall's historic Great Hall was transformed with dramatic red and gold styling, immersive entertainment and high-energy live performances, creating a memorable "show within a show".
The event featured leading artists from the worlds of theatre, dance and music, alongside a premium dining experience and opulent thematic production. Uniquely, the Market People Awards is hosted and presented by Roger Oldham, Founder of LMF, who has worked in the insurance industry for 40 years.
Roger Oldham, Founder of LMF, said: "The Market People Awards is about much more than trophies and recognition. It is about celebrating the people, teams and organisations who make the London Market such a special place to work. This year's event was our biggest and most spectacular yet, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make it such a memorable evening."
The People's Awards of the London Market
What makes the Market People Awards truly distinctive is that they are industry-led. Nominations come directly from the London Market community, while judging is carried out by Market practitioners, including previous award winners. This makes the Market People Awards a genuine celebration of peer-recognised achievement across the Lloyd's and London Insurance Market.
The 2026 event concluded with the much-loved Winners' After Party, sponsored by LMF and held in the Old Library at Guildhall, where winners, highly commended recipients and special commendation recipients celebrated together.
Record-Breaking Nominations Across 25 Categories
The Market People Awards 2026 received a record-breaking 300 nominations across 25 award categories, highlighting the depth of talent, dedication, innovation and leadership across the London Insurance Market.
The evening celebrated outstanding professionals and organisations across broking, underwriting, claims, leadership, learning and development, technology, operations, transformation, supplier excellence and diversity, equity and inclusion. The Market People Awards also maintains a distinct focus on recognising young professionals, rising stars and future leaders within the insurance sector.
Standout Winners from the Market People Awards 2026
Among the standout winners of the evening was Kirstin Duffield of Verisk, who received the Joe Dainty Memorial Award, recognising an individual who has made a lasting impression by driving change and transformation in the London Market. Kirstin was also recognised through her work with Datum Point, winner of London Market Consultancy / Advisory / Services Supplier of the Year.
Kirat Kaur Nandra of Travelers was named London Market Mentor of the Year and was also joint winner of the Market People Outstanding Contribution Award, recognising her extraordinary impact across the industry.
Ravi Shankar of Mosaic Insurance was also recognised with the Market People Outstanding Contribution Award for his significant contribution to the Market and wider community.
The prestigious Market People Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to two highly respected industry leaders: Chris Lay, formerly of Marsh, and Stephen Catlin of Convex, honouring their remarkable careers and long-standing contributions to the London Insurance Market over many decades.
Other notable winners included individuals, teams and organisations from Allied World, Beazley, Howden, VAVE MGA, Apollo Underwriting, ACORD Solutions Group, Sheridan Worldwide and many more outstanding professionals and firms. Every finalist should feel immensely proud of being shortlisted, with the winners representing some of the very best talent the London Insurance Market has to offer.
The full winners list can be viewed at the Market People Awards website.
Sponsors and Supporters
LMF extends its sincere thanks to all sponsors and supporters of the Market People Awards 2026. The Headline Sponsor for 2026 was Velonetic, whose continued support helped make the evening possible.
Gold Sponsors included Allied World, VAVE MGA, Risk Ledger, VIPR Solutions, EPAM Systems, VJSAR Consultancy, Earnix and Alchemy Technology Services, part of NTT DATA.
Silver Sponsors included Aon, Howden, Markel, ACORD Solutions Group, ACORD, Apollo Underwriting, Verisk, Marsh Risk, Accelerant and DXC Technology.
Bronze Sponsors included Beazley, Canopius, Amarillo Technologies, PoloWorks, Buckhill Software, DUAL and Simply Business.
Other firms supporting the evening included Lloyd's, Westfield Specialty, Brit Insurance, Kennedys, Sheridan Worldwide, New Dawn Risk, Tokio Marine Kiln, Tokio Marine HCC, Consilium Broking, CFC, Ariel Re, BMS Group, AmTrust, Coalition, SignetRisk Analytics, Liberty Specialty Markets, McGill and Partners and Cymos.
Organisations interested in sponsoring or supporting the Market People Awards 2027 can find further information and make contact via: Market People Awards 2027.
Giving Back to Crisis
A key part of every Market People Awards is supporting an important charitable cause. The LMF nominated charity for 2026 was Crisis, the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. Guests once again showed their generosity throughout the evening, supporting the charity through a Grand Raffle, fundraising games and donations.
LMF is delighted to confirm that £5,000 was raised on the evening.
Roger Oldham added: "The generosity of the London Market community is something we never take for granted. Supporting Crisis this year gave the evening an additional sense of purpose, and we are hugely grateful to everyone who contributed."
What Guests Said
"An absolutely phenomenal evening. The attention to detail, production and atmosphere were exceptional from start to finish."
"The best Market People Awards yet. A truly special celebration of everything that makes the London Market unique."
"A fantastic event that brought together so much talent, energy and positivity in one room."
"The best industry awards in the Market, including the ones in the United States."
Photography and Media Assets
Photography from the Market People Awards 2026 is available to view online, including images from the ceremony, Guildhall production, winners' presentations, live entertainment, sponsor activity and the Winners' After Party.
Photography can be viewed at: https://marketpeopleawards.com/2026photos
For high-resolution images, media editors and publishers should contact LMF at: info@lmforums.com
Relive the Market People Awards 2026
A full highlights video and the complete winners list are available on the Market People Awards website: https://marketpeopleawards.com
Looking Ahead to the Market People Awards 2027
Following the success of the 2026 event, LMF is already looking ahead to the Market People Awards 2027. The continued support of sponsors, partners, judges, finalists, winners and the wider Market community ensures that the Market People Awards continues to grow year after year.
Businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities, brand visibility, hospitality packages or partnership opportunities for the 2027 Market People Awards are encouraged to contact LMF.
Media Contact
LMF - London Market Forums
Email: info@lmforums.com
Telephone: +44 (0) 203 551 9188
Awards Website: https://marketpeopleawards.com
Company Website: https://lmforums.com
About the Market People Awards
The Market People Awards is an annual celebration of the people, teams and organisations who make an outstanding contribution to the Lloyd's and London Insurance Market. Produced and hosted by LMF, the awards recognise excellence across broking, underwriting, claims, operations, technology, leadership, supplier partnerships, mentoring, learning and development, diversity and inclusion, and rising talent.
The awards are industry-led, with nominations submitted by the Market community and judging carried out by experienced London Market practitioners.
About LMF
LMF - London Market Forums is a leading community hub for thought leadership, professional collaboration, networking and market engagement across the Lloyd's and London Insurance Market. LMF brings together practitioners, senior leaders, experts, innovators and corporate partners through forums, roundtables, practice groups, events, publications and community-led initiatives.
LMF - Putting you at the heart of the insurance market discussion for over a decade.