Our Team
Tom Aldridge
Managing Director
BSc (Hons), Cert CII
Tom has worked in the insurance broking industry for 20 years. He founded Blackford in 2018, recognising the need for an insurance brokerage that offers a values-led, fresh and personal approach to both its people and clients.
Tom leads the company, basing many of his principles from his early days in scouting. Outwith work, you’ll find him busy in his garden, at Murrayfield, or walking in Stirlingshire with his dog, Henry.
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Anne Catto
Broker
Cert CII
Anne left school in 1987 starting her insurance career as Office Junior at Town & County Insurance Brokers before moving to Central Insurance Services a few years later.
Here, she was employed as a Claims Handler for over 20 years, developing invaluable experience before moving to their Commercial Department in 2012.
Today, Anne is part of Team B's busy commercial broking team, working with a wide range of clients across a number of different sectors.
Outside work, she enjoys spending time with her son (being mum taxi a lot of the time!), watching football, walking and socialising with friends.
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Elaine Davidson
Senior Broker
Cert CII
Elaine headed straight into work after leaving school, initially finding a less than fulfilling office junior role which included fetching the bacon butties and making tea!
‘So, on spotting an advert for an insurance broking assistant I jumped at it…’
even though she wasn’t entirely sure what an insurance broker was at the time!
Some 28 years on Elaine still enjoys broking, especially the variety of clients she deals with, across many different sectors and still finds new and interesting industries to learn about.
Outside work, Elaine has a real passion for cooking, which she is brilliant at, and some kind of catering or other foodie thing would be her first choice as an alternative career.
A keen gardener, she also enjoys reading, skiing, golf and yoga.
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Pippa Dougherty
Projects & Marketing Manager
BA (Hons)
Having previously worked with Blackford in a freelance capacity, Pippa joined the team on a permanent basis in August 2021.
She has a wealth of marketing knowledge and brings a high standard of work to the team. And, having worked in the luxury goods sector for more than two decades, appreciates Blackford’s passion for delivering the very best client experience.
Outside work, Pippa spends a fair bit of time on parent taxi duties, being a pizza delivery driver (!), enjoying the great outdoors, as well as quality time with family and friends.
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Alan T Grant
Client Director
FCII
Alan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Blackford, having started with Commercial Union in 1971. In 1979 he joined a fledgling insurance broking business, Castle Cairn, which grew under his stewardship over the next thirty years to become one of the most highly regarded Brokers in Scotland.
Tom and Alan met in 2011 when Castle Cairn became part of a larger independent Broker, Central Insurance Services, and they quickly realised that they had a lot in common, not the least being shared values and a commitment to a highly professional but personal service to clients.
Outside work, Alan enjoys time with his family and is a doting grandparent to five grandchildren. He also enjoys country pursuits and is a self-confessed history geek, particularly social history, combined with genealogy and discovering the stories of some very interesting ancestors.
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Emma Green
Claims Manager
With nearly 30 years experience, Emma has covered claims at loss adjusters, insurers, ULR providers, but has been exclusively in broker claims since 2004; every type from family-owned local brokers right up to some of the large globals. She moved to James Hallam with her first management role in 2017 and joined the Blackford team in April 2022.
Out of work, Emma enjoys going to gigs, running, fell walking, swimming and charity work. She has a 23-year-old daughter and a very grumpy cat! Having recently passed her CBT test, Emma hopes to be riding her own motorbike soon.
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Michael Gregson
Private Clients Director
Michael has worked in the insurance industry for 30 years, closer to 40 if you include helping at his father’s office. ‘Officially’ joining his father’s business in 1991 as office junior, he gradually gained experience to manage the personal lines department.
The majority of Michael’s career has been insurance broking, however, he did spend nearly nine years with a boutique insurer who provided specialist cover for higher valued homes and their contents, gaining a deeper knowledge of the underwriting and risk management of this type of risk.
Michael’s area of expertise has developed over time into servicing the personal insurance needs of the more discerning individual. Driven by a desire to provide excellent customer service, he prides himself on establishing strong relationships, understanding the individual needs of each client.
Outside work, Michael plays golf and is a season ticket holder at Tynecastle. He also enjoys walking his dog with his wife and two children.
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Pam Mackintosh
Client Manager
Cert CII
Pam started her Insurance career in 1990 with Central Insurance Services, an independent insurance company based in Aberdeen. After working through various departments and following acquisition by national broker, Marsh in 2014, she set up the Small Business Unit before taking on the operational role of Client Services Director.
Getting involved in solutions for clients businesses is what enthuses Pam as well as working closely with colleagues, both old and new, to deliver the very best service at all times.
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dog and socialising with friends.
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James McIntosh
Graduate Broker
BA (Hons), Cert CII
James graduated from Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University in 2021, with a BA (Hons) in Law and Management James. After discussing opportunities with director Chris Tosh, joining Team B as a graduate broker seemed like a good fit.
Since joining Blackford James has loved learning how the industry operates, and the steps involved in achieving the best results for clients.
‘It is great to work and interact with such a wide variety of clients and ensure that the service they receive is of the highest quality. I have enjoyed learning about the industry and am excited to keep learning every day and progress with my studies.’
Outside work, James loves watching and playing football, attending gigs and collecting records, as well as socialising with friends.
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Doug Prentice
Client Director
Dip CII
Many years ago a friend arrived at Doug’s family home in a rather smart Mercedes. On hearing he was an insurance broker Doug was intrigued!
Some years on, Doug left school and embarked on a training programme with Royal Insurance (known as RSA these days). As someone who didn’t want to be stuck in an office 9-5, a role that would involve travelling to meet clients, learning about them and their businesses sounded ideal.
Today, with over 40 years experience in the trade, Doug still enjoys this aspect of his job. Helping people, understanding their businesses, developing long-term relationships to provide the best cover remains hugely important to Doug.
When he’s not working, Doug enjoys the great outdoors. A former ski instructor, skiing is still top of his list. He also likes hill walking and is a cycling fanatic, clocking up many miles on his road bike each week.
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Stephen Randall
Client Manager
Cert CII
Stephen studied Archaeology at Glasgow Uni but eventually dropped out when he realised there was no Indiana Jones hat or whip! After five years as a care worker he fell into insurance when looking for something a bit more 9-5 that he could make a career of.
‘A lot of people switch off when I tell them I work in insurance but I love it and would recommend it to anyone! As brokers we talk to people from all walks of life and businesses across all sectors, and I enjoy helping people find solutions to their business risks.’
When he’s not working, Stephen enjoys origami, archery and playing board games amongst other things. He also has six hens so spends a lot of time hunting for eggs and cleaning the coop!
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Kira Riddell
Broker
Cert CII
Kira started her insurance career in 2013 with Central Insurance Services, based in Aberdeen. Since joining, she has gained valuable experience - working within various departments, including accounts and the commercial risks team.
Dealing with a variety of clients from different sectors, Kira enjoys working alongside both clients and colleagues to ensure clients insurance needs are understood and met and that they receive the best service at all times.
Outside of work, Kira enjoys bagging Munros and hillwalking, socialising with family & friends and trying out different restaurants.
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Laura Scougall
Client Director
LLB (Hons), ACII
Laura studied law at Edinburgh University and qualified as a solicitor with Dundas & Wilson (now part of CMS).
She grew up around the insurance industry and decided she would enjoy applying her legal training in that context so joined Castle Cairn Insurance Brokers in 2006 as a commercial insurance broker.
Laura looks after the full range of commercial insurances but particularly specialises in financial lines insurance with a number of clients in the fund management, technology and energy sectors.
Having two young children doesn’t leave much spare time but Laura enjoys baking with them, listening to podcasts, being part of the Edinburgh School Uniform Bank team and doing the occasional Peloton class.
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Maureen Stewart
Senior Broker
Cert CII
Starting her insurance career at Commercial Union in 1979, and apart from taking a career break to have her family, Maureen has almost 30 years’ experience in the insurance industry.
Maureen and her colleagues in the Aberdeen office joined the Blackford team in August 2020, bringing additional commercial insurance knowledge and expertise to the Group.
Working across a variety of Commercial Insurances, she enjoys talking to clients to understand their individual insurance needs and thrives on the challenge of finding the appropriate solutions for them.
As a new grandma, Maureen adores spending time with her grand-daughter and loves socialising with family and friends. Any other free time she has is spent walking, swimming and relaxing with her nose stuck in a good book!
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Chris Tosh
Group Director
ACII
On leaving school in 1985, Chris joined Royal Insurance (now RSA) as a management trainee enjoying a high level of technical background. In 2003, he joined Central Insurance Services becoming a Director and upon their amalgamation with Marsh, became Marsh Commercial’s Underwriting Director across the entire UK operation.
Chris joined Blackford as Group Director in 2020, and is developing a portfolio of clients across Scotland operating primarily in Energy/Renewables, Construction, Real Estate, Manufacturing and Distribution sectors.
Outside work, Chris enjoys spending time with his family and pursuing hobbies with his two sons which include cycling, swimming and golf.
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Fiona Walker
Senior Broker
FCII
Having graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University with a BA in Commerce, Fiona took a ‘year out’, working in a DIY shop.
‘… basically socialising and burning through my wages by the second week of the month!’
Parent pressure to get a ‘real job’ and a recruitment drive by a global broker drew Fiona into the insurance world, offering the chance to utilise her degree, build a career and gain professional qualifications appealed.
Fiona became a member of the Fellowship of the Chartered Insurance Institute when she passed her FCII in 2008.
Her 24 years in the sector has brought a wealth of knowledge and experience across many different businesses including multi-nationals, football clubs, start-ups, universities and small sole traders.
Outside work, Fiona loves football and is a season ticker holder of a particular Glasgow club. Another love is music, attending live gigs of her favourites when she can.
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Blackford is a trading name of Blackford Group Limited, (Firm Reference 831508). Registered Office: Blackford Group Limited, 26 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4ET (Registered SC616744). Blackford Group Limited is an Appointed Representative of James Hallam Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Reference 134435).
Blackford is an approved member of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association