Emma Royds ACII

Emma started at an independent members’ agency, Donner Underwriting Agencies, in 1983 having read Economics and Geography at Exeter University.

From 1985 she concentrated on the syndicate analysis side of the business with James Sparrow and moved with him and two other colleagues to Philip N Christie in 1990 following the sale of Donner to Sturge. She was part of the founding team that went on to merge the agency with Brockbank Shipton Agencies to form Christie Brockbank Shipton (CBS – later CBSPC) members’ agency for the 1994 account.

Emma was the director in charge of the syndicate analysis team until the on-going business of CBSPC was acquired by Hampden Agencies Ltd in 2006.

Emma then founded Alpha with James Sparrow starting operations in 2007. Emma underwrites through a corporate underwriting vehicle, ICP, which was founded by her late husband, Charles Harbord-Hamond, up until 2026 and purchased Lower Sturthill LLP in 2025.