Our Story: How Littlewoods Evolved to Become a leader in the Insurance Industry.

Littlewoods Services, a prominent leader in Australia’s insurance and reinsurance industry, traces its roots back to 1956 when Neville Littlewood established an independent general accounting practice. From the outset, Littlewoods distinguished itself through exceptional service. Recognising a gap in the market for specialised solutions tailored to the insurance sector, Neville expanded the firm’s offerings to meet this unique need. Under Neville’s visionary leadership, Littlewoods experienced significant growth throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. In the 1980s, when Neville passed the reins to his son Ross, the business underwent a strategic transformation. Ross shifted the company’s focus to delivering specialised services for foreign-based reinsurers. Guided by a steadfast commitment to integrity and excellence, Ross propelled Littlewoods into a leading position as one of Australia’s most respected service providers and advisors in the insurance and reinsurance sectors.In 1996, Littlewoods relocated to the iconic Australia Square in Sydney. On Level 21, we established a collaborative space designed for Brokers, Insurers, and Reinsurers.

Read More

Littlewoods Journey at a Glance

1956:

Neville Littlewood establishes Littlewoods Services as a general accounting practice.

1960s & 70s:

Littlewoods Services expands to offer services to global insurers and reinsurers.

1980s

Neville’s son, Ross Littlewood, steps in as Director.

1990:

Littlewoods Services officially restructures from a general accounting practice to providing end-to-end solutions for the insurance and reinsurance industry.

1996:

The “Recentre” is born when we take over Level 21 at the iconic Australia Square in Sydney, creating Australia’s hub for reinsurance.

2017:

Former employee, Nik Lytas founded Insevo to provide dedicated services to the Underwriting Agency / MGA market, and is later joined by another former Littlewoods employee, Kevin Forder.

2019:

Director Ross Littlewood retires and Insevo acquires Littlewoods Services, bringing in Nik and Kevin as our new directors, and enhancing our expertise with its finely tuned underwriting services.

2024:

Littlewoods Services and Insevo merge operations under the Littlewoods brand, providing dedicated services to the insurance industry. Littlewoods Placements is established to source unique capacity solutions for MGA’s, leveraging deep industry expertise and networks.

Our Purpose

Enabling insurance entities to operate and thrive in Australia.

“We are passionate about helping our clients navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and achieve their goals with confidence and excellence.”

Our MISSION

Our mission is to be a leading provider of specialist services to both local and offshore reinsurers, insurers and managing general agencies.

Our Values

Our values have been entrenched in our business for over 6 decades and guide how we operate as a team and define how we interact with our clients, ensuring we deliver exceptional service and build lasting relationships.

Respect
We treat everyone with respect and fairness embodying the principles of treating others as we would want to be treated.
Excellence
We consistently deliver a high standard of work. We are committed to being agile and responsive, adapting quickly to our clients’ needs and the evolving market.
Client-Centric
Our clients are at the heart of our business. We prioritise their needs and tailor our services to ensure their success.
Integrity
We are honest, ethical and transparent in all our interaction, fostering trust with our team, clients and partners.
Teamwork
We believe in the power of teamwork, working collaboratively with our peers, clients and stakeholders to build relationships, achieve shared goals and drive mutual success.

Our People

Specialists in the insurance and reinsurance space

Our team is a dynamic blend of experienced professionals with long-standing tenure at Littlewoods, alongside talented newcomers who bring valuable insights from years in the insurance and reinsurance markets. Together, they offer a deep understanding of the industry, ensuring that every client receives a high standard of guidance and reliable support. With a strong commitment to excellence and innovation, our team’s dedication and drive have established Littlewoods as a leading force in the industry, setting a high standard for performance and progress.

Meet Our Leadership Team

Lytas Nik
Nik Lytas
Managing
Director
Read More
Kevin Forder
Kevin Forder
Director

Read More
Thwaites George
George Thwaites
Head of Risk and Compliance
Read More
Ziflian Rebecca
Rebecca Ziflian
General
Manager
Read More

Our Clients

Allied World
TT
TransRe
Southern Cross
Sompo
Sompo International
securities exchange
renaissance
Pacifiic International
HDI
hannover
Domestic & General
BarCover
AXA
Aspen
AM Best

QUICK LINKS

Contacts

  • 02 9274 3000
  • hello@lwds.com.au
  • Australia Square, Level 21 264 George Street, Sydney, Australia

Nik Lytas

Managing Director

Nik Lytas is a seasoned executive with over 15 years of experience in the insurance industry, currently serving as Managing Director of Littlewoods. In this role, he is responsible for the overall strategic direction, operational performance, and long-term growth of the business. Nik leads the organisation with a clear vision, balancing commercial objectives with a strong commitment to people, culture, and client success.

He holds a Bachelor of Law & Legal Practice from Flinders University and is a qualified legal practitioner, admitted in both South Australia and New South Wales. While not actively practicing, Nik maintains his NSW practicing certificate and draws on his legal background to inform commercial strategy, growth, and business governance.

Nik’s leadership is characterised by a forward-thinking, outcomes-driven approach. He plays a hands-on role in shaping company strategy, fostering key partnerships and opportunities, and guiding innovation across underwriting, insurer, and reinsurer services. His ability to identify growth opportunities, streamline operations, and build high-performing teams has been pivotal to Littlewoods’ success.

A passionate advocate for clients, Nik excels at navigating complex market landscapes and delivering practical, value-driven solutions. His reputation is built on trust, transparency, and a deep understanding of what drives lasting business relationships.

Notably, he founded Insevo in 2016, introducing innovative services to the underwriting agency space, and later acquired Littlewoods in 2019. These milestones reflect his entrepreneurial spirit and his drive to create agile, client-focused solutions that accelerate market access and capability.

Beyond the boardroom, Nik is known for his resourcefulness, expansive professional network, and ability to bring people and ideas together. His leadership style is marked by empathy, integrity, and a relentless focus on delivering impact.

Kevin Forder

Director, Littlewoods Services Pty Ltd

Kevin Forder is a seasoned accounting professional with a career spanning over 35 years, specialising in the insurance and reinsurance industries. He earned his Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University in 1994 and became a Chartered Accountant with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand in 1997.

Kevin’s journey in the industry is marked by a deep commitment to helping businesses navigate the complex regulatory landscape of the Australian insurance market. His expertise encompasses financial management, accounting and reporting, risk management, regulatory compliance, taxation, and information systems.

At Littlewoods Services, where he has spent more than two decades, Kevin provides strategic advice and regulatory guidance to a diverse array of clients, ensuring they meet all prudential standards and compliance requirements; delivers end-to-end services, and builds strong, trust-based relationships with clients, regulators, and auditors. Kevin’s ability to seamlessly integrate business processes with regulatory obligations distinguishes him in the industry.

Driven by values of honesty, integrity, accountability, and a relentless commitment to excellence, Kevin views his role as more than just a service provider. He sees himself as a vital part of his clients’ teams, dedicated to helping them achieve their business goals.

Outside of his professional life, Kevin finds joy in spending time with his family, watching sports, and planning travel adventures with his wife. His dedication to both his work and his family reflects a life led by passion and purpose, making him a respected leader and trusted advisor in his field.

George Thwaites

Head of Risk and Compliance

George Thwaites is a seasoned senior finance and risk executive with an extensive career spanning various leadership roles, including Chief Risk Officer (CRO), General Manager Finance, Board Member, and Head of Regulatory and Compliance. As the Head of Risk and Compliance at Littlewoods Services, George brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role, ensuring the company navigates the complex regulatory landscape with confidence and precision.

George’s academic foundation is rooted in his Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) in Electronic Engineering from the University of Liverpool, completed in 1987. This technical background has equipped him with a unique analytical perspective and a robust approach to problem-solving, essential qualities in his field.

With a career marked by significant achievements in business planning, strategy development, risk and capital management, George has consistently demonstrated his ability to drive organisational success. His expertise in risk and financial management has been instrumental in transforming functional areas, enhancing compliance frameworks, and managing external stakeholder relationships effectively.

Throughout his career, George has played a pivotal role in various acquisitions, and providing strategic oversight. His leadership has been characterised by a commitment to excellence, a deep understanding of regulatory requirements, and a proactive approach to risk mitigation.

At Littlewoods Services, George’s day-to-day responsibilities include overseeing risk and compliance functions, developing and implementing robust risk management strategies, and ensuring the company adheres to all regulatory obligations. His strategic vision and comprehensive understanding of the financial landscape enable him to anticipate potential challenges and guide the company through them successfully.

George’s professional journey reflects his dedication to continuous improvement and operational excellence. His ability to manage diverse and complex financial and regulatory environments has earned him a reputation as a trusted and reliable leader in the industry.

Rebecca Ziflian

General Manager

Rebecca Ziflian is a dedicated and passionate professional with over 25 years of experience in the insurance industry. Armed with a Business Administration and Management degree from Macquarie University, Rebecca has honed her skills across various facets of the insurance industry, building a reputation for her strategic vision and unwavering commitment to excellence.

As the General Manager, Rebecca manages all aspects of the Littlewoods business, ensuring that the needs of our people and clients are met. She plays a critical role in driving our company values, strategic initiatives and people framework. Rebecca brings exceptional people management and leadership skills to create a collaborative and empowered team environment.

Rebecca’s impressive career includes pivotal roles, with Insurers GIO, Suncorp and QBE Insurance. Rebecca has also worked across MGA’s Protecsure and Club 4×4 and her career is punctuated by several milestones and achievements. She has successfully managed the Quality Assurance Framework across multiple claims portfolios; transitioned a $30 million underwriting agency from an out-sourced to complete in-house operation, showcasing her ability to lead complex projects and drive significant operational improvements; and architected and led the CTP Claims Fast Track Team which won Suncorp’s Commercial Team of the Year in 2008. This last initiative brought about quick, fair, and reasonable outcomes for injured claimants, along with significant cost savings and exemplary team engagement. Its success led to expansion of the team since.

Rebecca’s professional journey is characterised by a deep commitment to integrity, transparency, and collaboration. She believes in the power of people and relationships, working tirelessly to create open and honest work environments and partnerships where people feel valued and empowered to contribute their best. Her unique combination of technical expertise and genuine care for her clients and colleagues sets her apart in the industry.

Outside of work, Rebecca loves traveling and exploring new places, enjoying outdoor adventures with her husband and two daughters, and indulging in great food and wine. She cherishes time spent with family and friends creating memorable experiences.