You know, whenever a major player like Lockton shuffles its leadership deck, it’s always worth paying attention. It’s never just about a new name on an office door. These moves signal a company’s direction, its priorities, and where it plans to double down.
And Lockton just made a really interesting move. They’ve named Brett Gillmon as their new U.S. Property Practice Leader.
If you’ve been in the property world for a while, that name probably rings a bell. If not, don’t worry, we’re going to get into it. This isn't just a standard promotion; it feels like a very deliberate, strategic placement of a seasoned pro at the helm of a critical part of their business. Let’s talk about who he is and what this really means for Lockton and its clients.
So, Who Exactly is Brett Gillmon?
Simply put, Brett is a true industry veteran. We're talking about someone with nearly 30 years of experience under his belt. Think about that for a second. He’s seen market cycles come and go, navigated catastrophic events, and watched the property insurance landscape completely transform. That’s the kind of experience you just can’t teach.
He’s not a new face at Lockton, either. He joined the team back in 2017 to lead the Property Practice for the Southeast region. In that role, he was the go-to guy for some of the firm’s most complex and challenging property and construction accounts across the entire country. He was already playing on a national stage, even from a regional position.
But his story goes back even further. Before coming over to Lockton, Gillmon spent more than two decades at Marsh. That’s a serious tenure. He climbed the ranks there, eventually serving as a Managing Director in their U.S. Property Practice. So, this isn’t his first time in a major leadership role at a global brokerage. He knows the playbook.
What This Move Means for Lockton's Property Team
In his new role, Gillmon is tasked with overseeing the entire strategic direction and growth of Lockton’s property business in the U.S. That’s a huge responsibility. It means he’s the one setting the vision for how they serve clients, how they approach the market, and how they continue to grow.
It’s pretty clear the leadership team is confident he’s the right person for the job. Devin Beresheim, who leads Lockton’s U.S. Risk Solutions, put it perfectly. He said, “Brett is exceptionally well suited for this role.”
Beresheim went on to call him an “immensely respected leader in the property market” and a “highly regarded technical and strategic partner.” When you peel back the corporate-speak, what he’s really saying is that people trust Brett. Carriers respect him, clients listen to him, and his own team looks to him for guidance. In our business, that kind of reputation is everything. It’s built over decades, not months.
A Global Perspective for a National Role
Here’s what I think is one of the most compelling parts of Gillmon’s background: his global experience.
Throughout his career, his focus has been on global property and builders’ risk. And he hasn’t just done it from a desk in one city. He’s held positions in Dubai, London, New York, and Atlanta.
Think about the value that brings. Having someone lead your U.S. practice who intimately understands the London market, who has placed complex risks in the Middle East, and who has navigated the financial hub of New York is a massive advantage. Today’s property risks aren’t confined by borders. Supply chains are global. Financial partners are international. Catastrophic events in one part of the world can have ripple effects everywhere else.
Having a leader who has seen it all firsthand means he can bring a much broader, more sophisticated perspective to the table for U.S.-based clients. He’s not just looking at a risk from an Atlanta point of view; he’s seeing it through a global lens.
Gillmon will continue to be based in Atlanta, reporting directly to Beresheim. It feels like a smart play by Lockton—placing a leader with deep roots and a global mindset in a key hub to steer the national ship. This is definitely a move that signals they’re serious about strengthening their already formidable property practice. It’ll be exciting to see where he takes it.
