Howden Re Inspire: meet Owen McGuire
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In our Howden Re Inspire series, we are proud to showcase our amazing team.
It’s important to us that the businesses and divisions within Howden Re reflect and contribute to the culture that we at Howden are so proud of. We are a global business with an entrepreneurial mindset. We value independent thinkers, celebrate different perspectives and experiences, and strive to make Howden a great place to work.
Our collaborative approach and collective power make us an industry leader, but it’s our people who make it possible!
Whether they’re forging a unique path in or outside business, leading the way on community impact, giving back, or demonstrating what it takes to make a difference, we are proud to introduce you to our team.
Be Inspired by: Owen McGuire, Director, Global Specialty Treaty, Howden Re
Owen McGuire joined Howden Re in April 2021 and now has more than 40 years of experience in the industry. Owen is a director of Howden Re’s Global Specialty Treaty team, where he primarily works on the servicing side dealing with all post placement aspects.
1000 miles in 10 days: London – Monte Carlo charity cycle
Owen was instrumental in the execution of a 1000-mile charity cycle ride from London to Monte Carlo in 2024.
A team of 13 people from Howden Re and client companies raised c.£100,000 in sponsorship for the cycle.
“It’s an incredible accomplishment, not only on the actual money raised and physical challenge, but also on the logistics and event planning behind the scenes too,” said Owen. “Thank you again to everyone who helped with this event - it required assistance from across the business.”
The sponsorship was split evenly between Maggie’s, a charity dedicated to providing homes for people to live well with cancer, Mind, an advocacy nonprofit aiming to reduce stigma and increase support for people experiencing mental health challenges, and The Felix Project, London’s largest food redistribution charity fighting to stop hunger and food waste.
For Owen, his involvement included organising the logistics of the 10-day cycle as well as driving the support van to and from Monte Carlo, assisting the team’s transport, bike storage, and mechanical support alongside an employed bike mechanic during the trip.
“The amount of effort that went into it! Everybody would be exhausted after a day of cycling and then we'd go for dinner, and exactly the same thing again the next day,” said Owen. “It got even more interesting when we started doing the climbs, especially near the Alps. Some of those climbs were very, very interesting and challenging. It was a great feeling to see everyone push themselves and to raise as much money as we did for the charities.”
Read more about the London – Monte Carlo charity cycle here
The Felix Project
Owen has spent a large amount of time volunteering with The Felix Project as a driver in Poplar, helping to transport and offload surplus food to distribution sites across London.
“Felix is a fantastic charity. Food insecurity here in London is an absolutely massive issue, and with the rising cost of living, it's getting extremely difficult for some people to be able to afford to eat,” Owen said.
According to The Felix Project’s website, in 2024 alone, 16,000 tons of food were redistributed from over 300 suppliers. This translates to 38 million meals provided for over 1,200 community organisations.
The food goes directly to people in need, either as singular items or in meal kits.
“From my perspective, it is incredible to be able to give back within the community,” said Owen. “It’s fabulous work that The Felix Project does, just trying to keep people and their families fed.”
