Our team

Our global and regional leadership teams are focused on applying their technology and industry expertise to deliver for our clients.
Australia Executive team Germany Poland South Africa Spain UK US

Georgia Mihailidis

Executive Client Management

A strong people leader who is customer centric, driven, and passionate about service excellence. Insurance professional with over 20 years’ experience in all areas of the claims value chain. Senior level management experience in building and leading high performing operational teams that work together to deliver a consistent and excellent customer experience. Strong stakeholder engagement and advocacy for the customer and operational excellence. Utilising lean thinking to drive continuous improvement.      Joined Innovation Group in March 2016, initially appointed as Claims Manager responsible for operations across fleet, motor and property claims.  In November 2017 was promoted to National Customer Manager leading a team of 100 employees across Melbourne and Sydney.  In 2019 I joined the Executive Team and recently appointed to Executive Client Experience role. 

Bradley Henniker

Assessing Manager

Bradley Henniker has over 30 years’ experience in the Australian repair industry and 24 years in assessing with different insurance companies - encompassing roles such as Assessor, Team manager, Operations Manager, Repair Development Manager and Assessing Manager. Brad started with Innovation Group in 2015 as a Senior Assessor and was quickly promoted to Assessing Manager in Insurance and Fleet.  

Drew Schnehage

Managing Director, Australia

Drew has 32 years' experience in the fleet and insurance industry in both South Africa and Australia. She owned an underwriting agency in South Africa for 7 years which specialised in high-net-worth products for the broker market. Drew joined Innovation Group South Africa in 2017 as Commercial Director and moved to Australia in 2019 to head up the region.

Tim Griffiths

Group Chief Executive Officer

Tim is the former CEO and executive chairman of the Williams Lea Group, a world-leading business process outsourcing company specialising in marketing services. Tim established Williams Lea as a BPO in 1993 and developed the company, both organically and through acquisition, into a $2 billion global business, employing 12,500 people in 40 countries. Prior to joining Innovation Group he was chief executive of intellectual property management services and software group CPA Global.

Andries Van Staden

Group Financial Officer

Andries joined the South African operation as Managing Director in June 2016, inspired by our vision for the future. As CFO and managing executive of Absa Insurance, part of Barclays Group, Andries has been a partner to Innovation Group’s South African operation since 2008. After successfully growing the South African operation he was promoted to Group Chief Operating Officer in February 2019, assuming responsibility for regional operations across the group. In January 2023, he was promoted to Group Financial Officer.

Marcos Antunes

Group Business Development Director

Marcos is a successful team leader with a strong sales background and a proven track record of exceeding targets. He has held various senior management roles at global and regional levels, across multiple functions in organisation such as Williams Lea, DP DHL and CPA Global. Attracted by Innovation Group’s growth strategies, Marcos joined the group in 2017.

James Coggin

Group Chief Technology Officer

James joined Innovation Group in 2019 as the Group Chief of Staff, attracted by the Group’s growth potential. Prior to this he was at Barclays Investment Bank where he advised clients on M&A and capital markets transactions across a range of sectors, including technology, infrastructure and industrials. James has experience in strategy, business development and marketing and holds a Master of Physics degree from the University of Durham. In June 2021, he was appointed as Group Chief Technology Officer.

Miles Toulson-Clarke

European COO

After starting his career in the paper industry, Miles joined a small printing company, Williams Lea, and, for the following 20 years, was part of the senior team which developed the business into its position as the leading global provider of outsourced marketing solutions. He worked with many international financial services companies, including a number of global insurers. He joined Innovation Group in May 2016 to lead engagement with major clients. In January 2023, Miles was appointed European COO.

Mark Alagna

CEO, Germany

Mark Alagna, CEO of Innovation Group Germany, has been leading the company since July 2023. He has been with the company since September 2020, working in various roles, most recently as CFO. During this time, he has acquired extensive knowledge across all business areas. Prior to his tenure at Innovation Group, he spent over 20 years at Daimler Mobility AG in various roles and countries. Mark Alagna brings an impressive career with profound expertise, innovative thinking, and a strong customer focus.

Grzegorz Czekiel

Member of the Board - Managing Director

Grzegorz has many years of experience in project management, sales and marketing. He trained at the two largest insurance companies on the Polish market, specializing in banking and international structures. He joined Innovation Group in 2014. Targeted in achieving goals, he has played an important role in implementing sales, project management, and developing new customer relationships that have underpinned our growth in Poland. Privately he’s absolute car fanatic, perhaps an advantage given Innovation Group’s operations.

Marcel de Klerk

CEO, South Africa

With over 25 years’ experience in local and international banking and insurance markets, Marcel has a strong background in leadership, strategy development and business growth. He was appointed to managing director of Innovation Group South Africa in April 2019. Prior to joining the group, Marcel held various executive positions within Absa’s retail, business banking and insurance divisions.

Bhavini Jogie

Chief Financial Officer

Bhavini, a qualified CA (SA), joined Innovation Group in 2014. She has extensive experience in the South African banking and insurance industries. Having fulfilled various finance related roles within the group, Bhavini was promoted to Finance Executive in 2019 and Chief Financial Officer in 2023.

Nthabiseng Miller

Executive: Legal and Compliance

Nthabiseng is an admitted attorney with over 15 years' experience in both corporate and commercial environments with a specialisation in the fields of legal, risk management, corporate governance and compliance. She joined Innovation Group in 2018 in the capacity as Legal Advisor and was promoted to Executive: Legal and Compliance in 2021.

Catherine Naidoo

Executive: Product

Equipped with approximately 27 years of experience in the Financial Services & Insurance Industry, Catherine joined the group in 2017 to  head up the Product division focusing on product design and development, actuarial pricing, MI&BI and underwriting. As an active participant in the South African Insurance Industry, Catherine was appointed as the 2022 President of the Gauteng Women in Insurance (GWII), a NPO that supports the growth and development of woman in the Short-term Insurance Industry.

Jannes van Aswegen

Executive: Human Resources

Jannes is an experienced human resources practitioner with a passion for people and developing and enhancing the end-to-end people experience. With over 15 years’ experience, Jannes joined the group in 2015 to lead our human resources strategy. Jannes holds a LLB degree (University of Pretoria), an MBA and is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa, specialising in labour relations.

Karin Kruger

Executive: Operations

Karin joined Innovation Group South Africa in November 2016 to strengthen and focus the group's operational capabilities. With a career spanning over 25 years' within some of South Africa's leading financial institutions, her strength lays in contact centre best practices and operational efficiencies She has a deep-rooted passion for coaching and developing young leaders to enable them to succeed in their ambitions.

Cornel Storm

Executive: Technology

Cornel joined Innovation Group in April 2023 as Executive Technology with a key focus of driving the group’s technology strategy. With over 20 years’ experience in information technology, Cornel has a strong focus on IT business, strategy, and structure along with the management of business and software domains. He holds BSC Mathematical Science and BSC Hons. Information Technology degrees from the University of Johannesburg.

Luis Carlos Cristobal

BI Director

Luis Carlos has 23 years of experience in the insurance and auto industry, between Direct Seguros (AXA) and Innovation Group, he has successfully led many large-scale projects including B2B, B2C, management of the Supplier network, cost control, business intelligent data & reports, restructuring and growth initiatives.  He has helped develop decisive solutions to secure important current and new clients with strong margin growth through delivery and innovative practices. 

Elisabeth Maia

HR Regional Manager

With a background in finance followed by experience as HR European Manager in the textile industry (Wholesale and retail market), Elisabeth was able to define and decline a global HR policy, in the administrative management of staff, payroll, recruitment, social benefits, career plan, and communication with social partners, for 250 collaborators based in different countries (France, Spain, Belgium, German, Portugal, Tunisia). Elisabeth was also a Business Partner in the development strategy. Elisabeth joined Innovation Group in February 2017 to define and achieve organizational and strategical company goals through hire policy, employee journey, engagement survey, management people. 

Ugo Gydé

Global Business Development and Service Delivery Director

After an experience at Nespresso, Ugo developed the efficiency of the retail & marketing process and the alignment of the 1500 collaborators in the French strategy. Based on this experience, Ugo has taken the lead of designing and developing the Business of our Centre of Excellence based in Barcelona, under the identity of The Global Smart Factory. He is also in charge of improving the efficiency and rentability of our Spanish marketing and designing and development the Learning & Development strategy and contents of our digital worldwide platform: Gateway. 

Fernando Morcillo

Sales Manager

With over 25 years of experience in the automotive and insurance industry, Fernando is a specialist in BPO and business development for insurance, renting and leasing companies, corporate fleets and brokers. He has worked for such prestigious companies as Volkswagen AG and Mercedes-Benz, joined Innovation Group more than 16 years ago, with the responsibility of developing and consolidating the Business in the Spanish Market with both local and international customers.     Bachelor´s degree in Economics and Business Administration, he completed his training with a master´s degree in Marketing and Sales Management at ESIC and International MBA at Cranfield University. 

Miles Toulson-Clarke

Chief Executive Officer (UK) / European COO

After starting his career in the paper industry, Miles joined a small printing company, Williams Lea, and, for the following 20 years, was part of the senior team which developed the business into its position as the leading global provider of outsourced marketing solutions. He worked with many international financial services companies, including a number of global insurers. He joined Innovation Group in May 2016 to lead engagement with major clients. In January 2023, Miles was appointed European COO.

Magdalena Baugh

Chief Financial Officer

Magdalena joined Innovation Group in January 2019 to help transform the UK region into the successful business it is today. She divides her time between being Chief Financial Officer in the UK and Group Commercial Officer across the Group. During her time at Innovation Group, Magdalena has been at the heart of performance turnaround, developed talented teams and instilled sharp focus on profitability and delivery.   Prior to joining Innovation Group in 2019, Magdalena has spent 15 years directly in the insurance industry, in a variety of senior Finance and Commercial roles with general insurers. During this time, she led large Finance operations, run key commercial negotiations and tender processes and oversaw complex M&A and refinancing activities.

Millie Boyd

Head of Transformation

Millie joined Innovation Group in 2019 bringing a track record of successful delivery based on strategic leadership, strong governance principles, building and maintaining relationships, continuous stakeholder management, and a solution orientated approach.  She has 25 years of Project, Portfolio and Programme management within Edtech, Publishing and Insurance. Millie and her team are committed to delivering transformation and managing change across the UK Insurance Division, for both Motor and Property services, implementing valuable forward-thinking software and process solutions through an open collaborative and creative approach.

John Watson

Managing Director, UK Insurance

John joined Innovation Group in January 2019, initially appointed as Managing Director for the group’s UK Property arm encompassing Subsidence, Environmental Services, Drainage, Buildings Reinstatement and Disaster Management. In October 2019 he was promoted to Managing Director of the UK Insurance Division which combines all of our Property and Motor services. Leading a team of 700 direct employees across the UK as well as a wide range of outsource partners.

Gary De Groot

Growth Director

Gary joined Innovation Group in 2019 following 12 years at Gallagher Bassett. He has performed a number of senior Sales and Account Management roles during his career and is an expert in motor, property and casualty claims management. Gary is responsible for new business development and organic growth and reports directly to the UK Managing Director.

James Gatti

Commercial Director

James has worked in the Accident repair industry for 28 years creating and managing approved repairer networks, running operations and managing Key accounts. He draws on this extensive experience in his current role to create business solutions, drive profitability and create value for the UK business and its extensive book of clients.

Catherine Hulme (ACII, Chartered Insurer)

Operations Director, Motor

Catherine has over 25 years insurance industry experience, having worked for Direct Line Group and Co-op Insurance in a variety of roles.  She joined Innovation Group in late 2020 as Head of Supply Chain (Motor and Property) and was promoted in November 2021 to Operations Director for Motor, leading our operational teams and MI team. In December 2022 we created one Motor directorate, and her remit was extended to Networks and Engineering.  Catherine has extensive experience in all aspects of end-to-end claims management and a proven track record for transformational change both operationally and across supply chains.  She is a champion for mental health and supports this through being a Wellbeing Supporter for The Insurance Institute of Manchester.

Richard Rollit

Technical Director, Property

BSc (Hons) MBA CEng MICE ACILA Richard has spent 30 years working in the insurance industry, joining the Innovation Group in 2012.  Richard has specialised in handling subsidence claims, with a passion for developing our technical understanding to deliver innovative solutions that put the customer at the centre of our business.   Before joining the Innovation Group, Richard held senior roles at Crawford and Cunningham Lindsey.

Craig O’Driscoll

Operations Director, Property

With over 25 years’ experience of building pathology and insurance principles, Craig is a motivational and inspirational leader. Working for a Tier 1 Insurer he developed high performing regional and national Field teams. The ability to remain proactive and strategically focused whilst delivering tactical solutions is an enviable skill that Craig has brought to the Innovation Group.  Craig returned to Innovation Group in 2019 and Director of UK Property Services.

Tony Kilgannon

Regional Manager, Property

With over 30 years' experience, Tony has specialised within the building and construction industry, civil engineering which led to repairing major sewers in London and travel to Germany and Ireland, managing projects.    In 2004 Tony joined the UK Drainage Network. This company went on to dominate claims management of drainage and water supply claims in the UK.   Following on from this role, Tony joined Innovation Group Underground Services in 2016 which then, only consisted of 2 depots at the time.  The Underground Services division is now one of the major players in the claim management of drains and water supply claims for the UK.

Bob Gallagher

Regional Manager, Property

As a distribution and logistics professional, Bob held various senior roles with Dairy Crest, Unigate & Dixons Stores Group before taking a career path change. Before joining Innovation Group in February 2016, Bob served as General Manager with UKDN & Dynorod. He is responsible for the service delivery for Insurer and private clients customer claims across the South of the UK. Specifically, Domestic and Commercial drainage claims and accidental damage claims in relation to access of fresh water supply.

Stephanie Sellers

VP, Account Management

Stephanie joined Innovation Group (IG)’s Account Management team in 2019 and tasked with deepening the relationship between IG and each of our clients.  With the success of each client at the forefront of every business decision, Stephanie was promoted to Vice President of Account Management in 2020, leading the charge of driving key solutions for our North America (NA) clients.  Prior to IG, Stephanie spent 10 years contributing as an integral part of Enservio’s, a Solera company, sales team driving client engagement and satisfaction. Currently overseeing IGNA’s Account Management team, Stephanie’s interests lie in the ongoing partnerships with IG’s client base and delivering strategic business outcomes.

Pete Douglas

Chief Executive Officer

Pete has spent his entire career building teams that develop SaaS and service solutions for insurance carriers and fleet management companies.  Directly prior to coming to Innovation Group in 2014, he played key roles at Enservio and Hertz during periods of significant growth at both companies.  Pete is passionate about leveraging technology and process to drive Customer Experience improvements.  That energy and commitment are visible throughout Innovation Group.