Back to Knowledge
Ec News Blog Background (1)
Share this Article

EC News (15 April 2021)

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

Round-up of the weekly news and developments from the global (re)insurance market with stories from Apollo Syndicate Management, Liberty Mutual Re, Aon and more.

Apollo appoints Matt Newman as group chief strategy & innovation officer

Independent specialist (re)insurer, Apollo Syndicate Management has announced the appointment of Matt Newman as group chief strategy and innovation officer.

Currently serving as Apollo’s group head of casualty and active underwriter of Syndicate 1971, he will keep this role and take on his new responsibilities from 8 April 2021.

In his new position, Newman will focus on supporting Apollo’s growth plans, and its innovation and partnership initiatives.

He will work with David Ibeson, group CEO, James Slaughter, group chief underwriting officer and the rest of the executive team.

Additionally, Luke Sanders has been appointed as head of strategic projects, reporting to Sally Peace, chief of staff.

Apollo stated Sanders will be responsible for supporting the executive team in raising capital to support underwriting growth and manage the firm’s ongoing strategic projects.

He most recently served as head of innovation at Neon Underwriting and head of risk and compliance at NCM Re (UK PCC). He has also held various senior roles at Ascot Underwriting between 2011 and 2016.

Ibeson said: “Strategic growth and innovation are already part of Apollo’s DNA and crucial to Apollo’s future profitability and sustainable growth. We are currently on track with a number of innovation and partnership development projects across all levels of the business. Matt has played a crucial role in leading on innovation within Apollo, exemplified by the ibott developments, and with his experience and understanding of the business will consolidate our key innovation programme and partnership initiatives in his new function. I’m very pleased to announce his appointment today.

I would also like to welcome Luke to Apollo. His expertise in both the Lloyd’s and capital markets will provide fantastic support and insights to the team. I look forward to working closely with him and we will continue to build and consolidate business partnerships to fuel our underwriting development and future ambitions.”

Newman commented: “I am delighted to be able to lead Apollo’s strategic growth initiatives and continue to foster our strong and innovative culture. Our third party capital structure gives us a unique and powerful platform to create new, and strengthen existing, aligned partnerships.  Our clients evolve and so do we, and I look forward to working with the team and maintaining Apollo’s position at the forefront of innovation and creativity in the global insurance market.”

Liberty Mutual Re names Peter Smith as EVP & MD

Liberty Mutual Re (LM Re) has announced the appointment of Peter Smith to the newly created position of executive vice president (EVP) and managing director, effective immediately.

Based in London, Smith will report to Dieter Winkel, president, LM Re and will be responsible for overseeing the LM Re global portfolio and performance optimisation. In addition to his new role, he will retain his regional LM Re responsibilities.

Smith has over 25 years of (re)insurance market experience and joined LSM in 2012. He previously served as an executive underwriting officer for LSM and prior to joining LSM he was deputy active underwriter at Sagicor Syndicate at Lloyd’s.

Winkel said: “I am delighted that Peter will be focusing more of his time on the LM Re portfolio and performance. We have a proven track record as a resilient business capable of profitable growth even in challenging circumstances. Peter’s ongoing leadership and support for our business will be exactly what we need to take us even further on our high-performance journey.”

Jon Wiegand joins Aon as head of power in UK Global Broking Centre

Aon has named Jon Wiegand as head of power in the UK Global Broking Centre, effective October 2021.

He will report to James MacNeal, managing director of construction and power.

Wiegand will serve within Aon’s global energy transition group, a partnership between the power and energy business, led by Euan Nicolson, global CCO of the firm’s energy speciality.

He will also work closely with Guido Benz, Aon’s recently appointed global renewable energy leader who is joining the business in May, and Carol Start who was recently appointed US renewable energy leader.

Wiegand brings nearly two decades of insurance experience to the firm having worked in power, construction and energy sectors in the US and London. He will join the business from Swiss Re, where he most recently served as head of engineering and construction. He began his career as an industry oil and gas engineer.

James MacNeal, managing director of GBC Construction and Power at Aon said: “The power industry is a key focus for Aon, and our offering is underpinned by market-leading technical and specialty capabilities.

“Jon’s appointment is a key part of our strategy to build a talented and experienced team that can deliver the full depth of Aon’s capabilities to our clients. I am delighted that Jon will be joining us; his wealth of expertise will prove invaluable as we continue to strengthen our power proposition in London and globally.”

Jef Van In named AXA Next CEO & group chief innovation officer

Global insurer AXA has announced Jef Van In has been appointed as chief executive officer of AXA Next and group chief innovation officer, effective 1 July 2021.

Van In, currently CEO of AXA Belgium, will report to Antimo Perretta, CEO of AXA Europe and a member of AXA’s Management Committee.

He succeeds Delphine Maisonneuve who has decided to take on a new role outside of AXA.

Van In joined AXA in 2011 as CEO of AXA Bank Europe and later became CEO of AXA CEE region (insurance) in 2013. In July 2016, he was appointed CEO of AXA Belgium and President of the Supervisory Board of AXA Bank.

Perretta comments: “I would like to thank Delphine warmly for all she has done at AXA over the past 30 years, her contribution to the success of AXA in her different roles, her strong voice advocating for our values, and for the development and promotion of our many high potential women across the Group. We will miss Delphine and wish her all the best in this new chapter of her career.

“I am very happy to see Jef embracing this new important challenge. I am convinced that his drive, his broad experience, his track record in the transformation of our operations in Belgium, and his strong convictions around customer centricity and innovation will be instrumental in accelerating our transformation journey. I wish him and his new teams all the best.

“Our innovation ecosystem will be a critical enabler to help us deliver the priorities of our new strategic plan “Driving progress 2023”, notably in health & protection. Bringing our innovation ecosystem closer to our core markets is another key step in our ambition to accelerate and scale business-driven and impactful innovation across our operations, in particular in the area of services and customer experience.”

Robert Dietrich appointed to lead Hiscox Europe

Specialist global insurer, Hiscox has announced the appointment of Robert Dietrich as the new chief executive officer of Hiscox Europe, effective immediately.

He succeeds Stephane Flaquet who was appointed to chief transformation officer earlier this year.

Dietrich has served at Hiscox for 24 years, having joined as an operations manager for Hiscox Germany from Allianz’ trainee programme in 1997.

Since then, he has held various underwriting roles across the business before being appointed to managing director of Hiscox Germany in 2006.

Ben Walter, CEO Hiscox Global Retail said: “Robert is a versatile, highly experienced business leader and a valued colleague. His extensive knowledge of the business will be crucial in helping us to deliver the next phase of growth for our European business as we innovate to capture the growth opportunities we see in both the traditional broker and digital channels.”

Dietrich commented: “I’ve seen the evolution of the Hiscox Europe business first hand as it has evolved to become a significant part of the Hiscox Group over the last 20 years. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the business delivered a strong performance in 2020 and we are well set to continue that trend.”

“I am excited to have the opportunity to work with the talent we have across our European offices as we drive the transformative possibilities that technology will deliver for our brokers and clients.”

Canopius hires Pat Milner as head of renewable energy

Global specialty (re)insurer, Canopius Group has announced the appointment of Pat Milner as head of renewable energy, effective immediately.

Milner brings more than three decades of global energy insurance market experience to Canopius and reports to Rachel Sabbarton, head of energy. He joins the business from The Hartford where he served as head of technical risks and managing director of the UK branch.

Canopious Group state his appointment underlines the firm’s commitment to the renewable energy sector. In his new role, Milner will be responsible for servicing the existing book of business and client base, as well as building a strategy for the future.

Sabbarton said: “Attracting someone of Pat’s experience and calibre is a significant coup for Canopius and I am delighted to welcome him to the team. His extensive expertise further deepens the bench strength of the energy division, which will be instrumental in realising both our renewable energy growth ambitions and the industry’s energy transition goals.”

Milner said: “I am delighted to join Canopius to build on the reputational excellence that the team have established and to further develop Canopius’ renewable energy proposition.”