Lloyd’s broker and delegated authority specialist Endeavour Insurance Services (Endeavour) has named Karen Allen as CEO designate of Endeavour.

Allen has spent her career of almost 20 years as a broker in the Lloyd’s market specialising in international specialty casualty insurances.

She joins Endeavour from Howden UK Group Limited where she assumed the role of director for international, responsible for the growth and management of the team she built over that tenure.

Allen has largely focused on coverholder business, working with clients in Canada and Australia. She has also successfully developed emerging products such as cyber.

As well as CEO designate of Endeavour, Allen will serve as group managing director with immediate effect on joining the business in October this year.

She will take on overall responsibility for the combined broking operations of SSL Endeavour following the merger with fellow Lloyd’s and independent specialist marine broker SSL Insurance Group (SSL) in a transaction that will see both companies acquired by a fund advised by private investment firm J.C. Flowers & Co. LLC (JCF).

The combined business will trade as SSL Endeavour. Allen will work alongside Endeavour Founder and current CEO David Lawrence for a period as Lawrence transitions into the position of co-founder and president of the Board of the combined SSL Endeavour Group.

Lawrence commented: “We are delighted that an individual of Karen’s calibre and talent will be strengthening the Endeavour management team at this pivotal moment in our growth. Whilst Karen’s underlying experience is closely akin to that of Endeavour, she will bring a new perspective to the business which we are very excited about.

Endeavour is now one of the largest and most respected independent producers of delegated authority business into the Lloyd’s and London markets, and Karen’s successful experience managing delegated authority and Lloyd’s coverholder business as well as developing innovative new programmes makes her an ideal CEO in the near future.

Karen’s appointment will also allow me to focus on the growth strategy and integration of the combined SSL Endeavour business going forwards.

The future of insurance broking lies in delivering value to clients, and delivering practical tools and insights that allow coverholders to place business in the Lloyd’s market more efficiently.

Undoubtedly, the combined SSL Endeavour business is on a dynamic growth path, and I am looking forward to Karen bringing her skills and experience to our talented team.”