QBE Insurance Group has promoted Cécile Fresneau to lead its European operations’ division, overseeing the business in Europe and International markets in addition to the UK, effective 1 April 2021.

Fresneau replaces Sam Harrison, who will join the group executive committee as group chief underwriting officer.

In her new role, she will focus on the execution and delivery of key customer and operational initiatives while overseeing the development of QBE in its key markets.

For the last three years, she has served as executive director for QBE UK. She has over two decades of insurance industry experience and was recently appointed active underwriter for syndicate 386, a position she will continue to hold.

Additionally, Nick Hankin’s appointment as chief underwriting officer for QBE International, including QBE European Operation and Asia has been made permanent, following the retirement of Colin O’Farrell at the end of 2020.

Jason Harris, CEO of QBE International said: “Since joining QBE in 2018 Cécile has driven very positive change in our UK business to further cement the success of the division and to ensure that our customers remain central to our proposition. We have an ambitious agenda for our European business, and I look forward to working with Cécile to achieve it and more.”