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EC News (23 July 2020)

  • Publish Date: Posted over 3 years ago
  • Author:by Alan Jarque

Round-up of the weekly news and developments from the global (re)insurance market with stories from BHSI, Apollo Syndicate, Guy Carpenter and more.

BHSI named head of Financial Institutions in Germany

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance has announced the appointment of Dr. Frank Amandi as head of Financial Institutions, for Executive and Professional Lines in Germany.

Amandi has over two decades of international insurance, underwriting, claims and product development experience, joining from Allianz Global Corporate & Speciality SE in Germany where he most recently served as deputy global head of financial institutions.

Prior to that, he spent 10 years at Chubb Insurance Company of Europe SE, Dusseldorf.

Andreas Krause, country manager, Germany, BHSI said: “We are pleased to have Frank leading our efforts to bring our robust suite of financial lines solutions to financial institutions across Germany. His deep expertise and dedication to helping institutions address dynamic risk challenges will serve our customers well.”

Apollo Syndicate announces new leadership structure for its specie and cargo business

Independent specialist (re)insurer at Lloyd’s, Apollo Syndicate Management has announced a new leadership structure for its specie and cargo business and well and two key appointments joining its underwriting team.

Richard Panter joins the firm as head of specie and cargo at Apollo Syndicate 1969, reporting to Paul Letherbarrow, head of aviation and member of the executive committee.

He brings over 37 years broking and underwriting experience and most recently served as head of fine art and jewellers block at AXA XL. Prior to that, he held senior roles at Catlin and XL Catlin for more than 15 years.

Charlotte Wilson joins the business as head of fine art and deputy head of specie and will report directly to Panter.

Most recently she was global head of portfolio solutions at AXA XL where she focused on strategy development and new business opportunities.

Between 2002 and 2019, Wilson also held a range of senior positions at Catlin (later XL Catlin), including fine art and specie underwriter and underwriting manager.

Ian Morton serves as head of jewellers block and deputy head of specie and will also report directly to Panter.

He joined Apollo’s cargo and specie team in 2017 and before that was a senior underwriter at AEGIS Syndicate for seven years.

Additionally, Chris Terry is head of cargo, reporting to Panter and has been deputy class underwriter for cargo and specie at Apollo Syndicate 1969 since 2012.

Prior to Apollo, Terry was an assistant underwriter at Chaucer Syndicates between 2007 and 2012.

Panter and Wilson will join Apollo Syndicate 1969 upon completion of their current contractual obligations.

David Ibeson, group CEO at Apollo, said: “We have identified a range of opportunities in the improving specie and cargo market, which complement Apollo’s growth plans. Apollo’s specie and cargo team has produced a strong result thus far and Richard, Charlotte, Ian and Chris all have exceptional knowledge and experience to bring to the Syndicate, we are pleased to have attracted such talent. Their extensive market relationships, combined with both the growing talent within Apollo and the analytical and actuarial capabilities of our team, are set to consolidate our position as one of the strongest specie and cargo units at Lloyd’s. I am therefore very pleased to welcome Richard and Charlotte to Apollo.”

Guy Carpenter announces three senior appointments within its GC Fac division

Guy Carpenter, the reinsurance subsidiary of global brokerage Marsh has announced three senior appointments within its GC Fac team to form part of a wider realignment process.

The firm states that the process will see the structuring of product teams around geographic regions to ensure the delivery of client-centric solutions which precisely reflect the unique exposure dynamics of each territory.

Stephen Wilkins has been appointed head of UK Property and Paul Hargis has been named deputy head of UK Property. Both will be based in London and Wilkins will report to Richard Della, head of Property, GC Fac.

Also, within the property team, James Goodwin has been appointed head of Power and Mining. Based in London, Goodwin will report to Dominic Samengo-Turner, global head of Facultative, Guy Carpenter.

Wilkins brings 24 years of (re)insurance industry experience to the role with a focus on global property. Most recently, he was a senior vice president at Lockton Companies, having spent 14 years at the company.

Hargis joins the business from Willis Towers Watson where he was previously head of UK and rest of world within the firm’s facultative division. He brings over two decades of industry experience, including 16 years in the UK facultative sector.

Goodwin has over 23 years of industry experience, most recently at Willis Towers Watson where he served a global head of broking for Natural Resources, Facultative.

During his career, he has also worked at Lockton Companies, Jardine Lloyd Thompson and Heath Lambert.

Commenting on the appointments, Samengo-Turner said: “At GC Fac, our clients benefit from the breadth of experience across our teams that ensures the consistent delivery of innovative solutions to their fast-evolving challenges. The appointments of Paul, Steve and James will add yet further depth to our facultative proposition as demands increase during a time of substantial change in the marketplace.”

Fidelis adds David Turner as head of claims

Specialty (re)insurance, Fidelis insurance Holdings Limited, has announced the appointment of David Turner as head of claims, effective immediately.

Based in London, Turner joins Fidelis from Amlin group where he served for over three decades most recently as the global claims director responsible for all the company’s regulated entities.

Patricia Roufca, group chief operating officer and group general counsel said: “Claims is a vital function for any (re)insurance company. At Fidelis, we always strive to offer our clients and brokers the best service, so we are delighted to welcome someone with David’s seniority and experience in the market across multiple lines of business. Fidelis has taken a quantum step forward over the last twelve months in terms of its capital, ratings, adding to its shareholder base and building out its offerings and team. David is the latest in that progression as we establish Fidelis as a true leader able to respond to our clients’ needs and to exceed expectations.”

David Turner commented: “I’m excited to be joining Fidelis at a time when it is really taking on the role of a market leader. I believe passionately in the value that a proactive and experienced claims function adds to any company. I am sure I can help to achieve the ambitions that Fidelis has to provide truly excellent service to all its clients as it grows and expands.”

Howden names Barnaby Rugge-Price as its new Chair

Independent insurance broker Howden Broking Group has announced the appointment of Barnaby Rugge-Price as its new chair.

This appointment comes ahead of Howden’s Merger with RKH, which takes effect in October 2020.

This consolidated platform and unified management team, led by Howden CEO José Manuel González and supported by Barnaby Rugge-Price as chair.

Rugge-Price returns to the firm after serving most recently serving as CEO at Hyperion X, the Group’s data and analytics arm. He will also retain his role as executive chair of Hyperion X.

Alongside this, Hyperion X has appointed Paul Johnston as its new CEO.

Rugge-Price said: “This represents the ultimate affirmation of the rationale to bring together the RKH and Howden businesses into one group and now formally merge them into one company aligned behind one strong leadership team. I am excited to move back into the heart of the broking business with my Hyperion X experience, as we continue to re-evaluate ourselves to better service our clients. Howden’s entrepreneurial culture, which empowers employees to develop innovative and creative client solutions, along with our People First approach continues to attract the top talent in the market and will power our growth,”

“My role in supporting José Manuel underlines our joint commitment to building out a world-class platform and to embedding data and analytics into the business to deliver client solutions even more effectively.”

González commented: “I am delighted to welcome Barnaby as Chair of Howden Broking Group. His experience and track record in building RKH and latterly Hyperion X is testament to his expertise, entrepreneurial mind set and leadership capability.  These skills will strengthen our ability to take Howden Broking Group forward as we embark on the next phase of our ambitious growth plans. As always, change is the only constant in Howden and the wider world, but we’re confidently in the right company, in the right industry, and at the right time. Together, Barnaby and I will make a formidable team!”

Tobin Ryan appointed head of claims at Tokio Marine Kiln

Tokio Marine Kiln (TMK) part of the insurance group Tokio Marine has named Tobin Ryan as head of claims, following the retirement of Nick Sinfield.

In his new role, he will lead a newly created claims executive team including Laura Hollingsworth who has been promoted to head of claims operations, Lee Bennett who will become head of a newly formed delegated claims team.

Additionally, Patrick Cannon has been promoted to head of enterprise risk and casualty claims and Victoria Joslin promoted to head of property, marine and aviation claims

Ryan was previously head of Property and Special Lines Claims at TMK, having joined the firm in 2012. He has more than three decades of experience in the London market. Prior to TMK he spent 10 years at Beazley where he served as a property claims manager.

He specialises in managing large and complex losses and successfully led independent research consultancy Gracechurch for a period of time.

Sinfield is retiring after more than 30 years in the industry. Sinfield joined TMK as group head of claims in 2015.

Nick Hutton-Penman, deputy CEO, said: “We are excited to welcome Tobin to his new role and look forward to the team’s continued success under his leadership. Nick retires from TMK leaving the claims team in an exceptionally strong position and with significant depth of talent in the management team who I am confident will take the claims department forward. I would like to thank Nick for his outstanding contribution to TMK and wish him a very long and happy retirement.”

Ryan commented: “I am honoured to be head of claims for TMK, which underscores our philosophy of developing talent and promoting from within. TMK is entering very exciting times and I am delighted to be part of a company with such a strong business strategy and vision for the future. Our claims team is number one in the market in the Gracechurch survey following independent research of the broking community, and we remain committed to providing an outstanding claims service and building strong and enduring relationships with our brokers and clients.”