C J Coleman

About Us

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Our Values

Positivity

We focus on the good in people, nurturing positive energy.
Positivity is spread by choices, decisions and actions directly affecting those around us.

Collaboration

We want to ensure all our people’s voices are heard and valued.
Good communication and sharing knowledge is vital for an effective team.

Excellence

We aim to attract and retain the best people in our industry.
We strive to be outstanding going beyond what is expected of us.

Integrity

We strive always to gain the trust of our colleagues, clients and the market.
We set high standards, understanding that our reputation can be damaged by one action.

Creativity

We aim to nurture innovative ideas, concepts and processes.
We are inquisitive and receptive to fresh thinking and new perspectives.

Leadership

We should all think and act like owners, embracing responsibility.
Leadership demands courage, vision and integrity.

Our History

The C J Coleman Story

1973 ONWARDS

Chris Coleman came into the Lloyd’s market in 1950 on a salary of £125 per annum. At the age of just 26, he had become the youngest Director at Lloyd’s broker, Bevington Vaizey & Foster where the experience of running the North American section, involving sixty staff and doubling the income, was invaluable. Fast forward to 1973, significant changes, including the sale of BVF and the birth of his 4th son, prompted CJ to start his own business.

C J Coleman & Company was established in September 1973 with a simple objective: the Company must operate to the highest standards possible. It is a philosophy that is at the core of everything we do today.

“Chris was not just a business associate, but one of the finest men I have ever known. Together we were able to put together a very successful partnership.”

Joe Morahan Jr.

“Having had the good fortune to have spent quality time with Chris Coleman, I can say with no hesitation, he is the ultimate gentleman broker. When I first started in the room, he would treat me, a young spotty photocopy boy, as though I was the active underwriter. His ability to make you feel like the most important person in the room when he is talking to you, coupled with his genuine interest in what everyone had to say, made me instantly recognise why the man (and the company) became the success it has. He truly is the ultimate gentleman. To see Ben and Toby, both of whom are a ‘chip off the old block’, continue the legacy and take the company to the 50 year mark is heart-warming for me to see. A real landmark. Congratulations to all at CJ Coleman.”

Peter Laidlaw, Active Underwriter, Atrium Underwriters Ltd
Chris Coleman and Joe Morahan Jr of Shand Morahan, inside the 1958 Lloyd’s Building, 1973

A Modern Heritage

TODAY

50 years on, it is still all about putting our clients at the centre of everything we do. Our commitment is that we take our business seriously but not ourselves. We respect our heritage but we are not stuck in the past. We always look for ways of doing things better, more efficiently, harnessing technology, but never losing the human touch. We are an independent broker and proud of it; it gives us total control and flexibility to make the right decisions. Having staff and clients that have been with us for over 25 years is a testament to the way we work.

Become a part of the CJC story.