Meet the Team

Roger Gaunt – Managing Director

Roger Gaunt – Managing Director

Roger Gaunt’s insurance career started in underwriting, in roles at Provincial Insurance and Municipal Mutual Insurance. Having built up his experience in the underwriting world, he realised that what he missed was the contact with the customer that would enable him to fully understand their needs. To address this, he entered into an 18-month partnership that didn’t evolve as expected, so he then took the bold decision to start his own business. ‘Gauntlet’ was consequently born in October 1994.

Initially, Roger ran the business from home, but by the beginning of 1995, had established the foundations of a promising business and moved to Crown House, in Armley, Leeds, continuing to work with the bus and coach clients that had followed him when he set up on his own. Many of these clients are still with him today.

Although Gauntlet Group’s early days were focused on being a specialist broker to the bus, coach and fleet trade, the company has evolved, under Roger’s guidance, into one of the most trusted providers of commercial insurance in a wide variety of business sectors. Over the years, Roger has worked closely with contacts in the Lloyds market, developing numerous insurance avenues through which to place risks. Gauntlet has, therefore, been able to cover businesses of all shapes and sizes, from small self-employed contractors to international organisations that are trading globally and quoted on the London Stock Exchange.

In April 2015, Roger relocated the business to new offices at Gauntlet House, in Killingbeck, Leeds, creating an office environment that optimizes communication between teams and superbly equips them with all the tools through which to smoothly manage insurance, risk management and broker network processes, from end to end.


Nigel Law – Enterprise Recruitment Manager

Nigel Law – Enterprise Recruitment Manager

Nigel’s 48-year career in insurance began with a role with General Accident and has now encompassed roles as a branch manager, an area director with CGU and as a regional manager for both Aviva (North East) and NIG (North West and North Wales). In 2005, he joined the PLC Board of Broker Network, as managing director for retail broking. Following takeover by Towergate, he joined the management team at Rural and then the Board of JM Glendinning IB. He formed his current consultancy business, Nigel Law Consulting, in 2012 and has worked with Gauntlet since that time, helping to grow its AR network, Gauntlet Enterprise.

Outside of work, two children, three stepchildren and nine grandchildren keep Nigel busy, whilst he continues to be a lifelong supporter of both Nottingham Forest FC and Nottinghamshire CCC.


Glyn Arundale – Quality Assurance Manager

Glyn Arundale – Quality Assurance Manager

Glyn has worked in the insurance industry for nearly 20 years, working for both insurers and insurance brokers in the UK and Australia. He has experience across all facets of insurance including broking, business development and in his current role, quality assurance and compliance.

In his spare time he enjoys following rugby league, travelling, reading and spending time with family and friends


Darryll Leach – Commercial Manager

Darryll Leach – Commercial Manager

Darryll joined Gauntlet in 2017, to establish a dedicated, professional personal lines insurance division, to assist the placement of personal lines risks generated through Gauntlet’s appointed representative network. Darryll used his extensive experience as a former Swinton branch manager to significantly grow the division and create the systems and procedure that would enable it to thrive, in terms of both new business and renewals. Having recruited and trained new team members, who have been able to further grow personal lines business, Darryll has assumed additional responsibilities, working as a commercial broker and mentoring various new Gauntlet appointed representatives, during the early months of their business ventures.

Outside of work, Darryll spends time playing football. He also loves watching his three boys play football and cricket and, when he can, gets down to watch his football team, Bradford City.


Basel Almaani – Finance Manager

Basel Almaani – Finance Manager

Basel joined Gauntlet in late 2018 as the Group’s finance manager with responsibility for the Group’s financial accounts, budgeting, payroll, sales billing and credit control systems and all financial aspects of the purchasing and accounts payable, including the company’s procurement and expenses systems. In addition to his postgraduate academic studies,  Basel is a AAT fellow member and completed all ACCA exams, to build on more than 15 years’ experience within banking and finance, which previously saw him working in roles overseas, in his country of birth, including those of foreign exchange dealer and manager of a bank’s investment and treasury department. Here in the UK, he has had financial roles in the recruitment, insurance and credit management sectors.

Outside of work, Basel spends his time reading books and attending various courses. He also enjoys swimming and travelling.


Angela McIver – Sales Manager

Angela McIver – Sales Manager

Angela rejoined Gauntlet in September 2014, having left a few years previously.  Her return demonstrated her belief in Gauntlet’s business strategy and service ethos, which are aligned with her own methodologies and principles.

Angela handles every aspect of her clients’ portfolios, sourcing new business opportunities and managing new accounts from their inception.  This enables her to build a long-term relationship with clients.

She is the first point of contact for clients needing to review their insurance needs and source the right cover, at the right price.  She is also a key part of a team that is growing significantly, every month.

Angela’s experience in the insurance sector spans roles at Morgan Insurance, Budget Insurance and SME Insurance and she has handled everything from personal lines and commercial insurance, to running an insurance branch office and being a sales manager.

In her free time, Angela works on behalf of an animal rescue charity and enjoys reading and eating out.


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