The latest job moves and senior appointments for you;
CYTORA
Cytora announced that Kelly Lyles, former CEO, Client and Country Management at AXA XL, has joined the company’s advisory board.
Kelly will play a key role in driving Cytora’s expansion in the commercial insurance market, providing first rate industry knowledge and experience. She joins an existing group of insurance and technology experts, supporting Cytora on its mission to bring a new class of technology to commercial insurance. Kelly is a well-known international insurance leader with 35 years’ experience in underwriting and general management in global commercial insurance. She has a track record of building global geographic and distribution functions as well as specific country leadership and underwriting management.
Having held senior positions at AXA XL and XL Catlin, Kelly most recently served as CEO, Client and Country Management at the firm. Prior to that, Kelly held the role of Head of Speciality Lines for EMEA at AIG. She joined AIG as an underwriter in 1985 and spent nearly thirty years with the organisation.
SCHEMESERVE
SchemeServe, a leading cloud-based provider of insurance software for the insurance industry, has made two new appointments to the board.
Sean Neal, (pictured) now a Board Director and Commercial Director of SchemeServe, joined the insurtech nearly a year ago as a member on its Advisory Board, and was rapidly appointed as Chief Commercial Officer in June 2020. Well known and well respected in the market, Sean brought 30 years’ industry experience to SchemeServe as a broker and founder of a leading property owners’ MGA. In the last 12 months SchemeServe has grown 12%, operating £240m GWP, and has broadened its client list to include brokers and MGAs, both big and small, and now leading insurers.
Simon Cowling, previously Head of Engineering and UX, has also been appointed as a Board Director and Chief Technical Officer. Simon joined SchemeServe two years ago with more than 15 years’ experience as a software manager overseeing front and back end development including designing website/system structure, modern customer journeys and front-end design. He currently leads SchemeServe’s large team of IT Developers.
The two new board appointments have been made in recognition of the outstanding commitment and talent brought to SchemeServe by both Sean and Simon and reflect the continued growth of the company.
Adam Bishop, CEO and founder of SchemeServe, comments: “I’m delighted to announce these two appointments to the Board. Sean is an amazing ambassador for SchemeServe. His knowledge of the industry and his extensive network have already helped us to refine our offering considerably. Simon on the other hand is our master of UX (User Experience); User Experience is the difference between mediocre and great InsurTech. Both Simon and Sean continue to lead the charge on technology solutions that really matter to the market and its customers.
“Insurance companies of all shapes and sizes have flocked to join the race to digitise, particularly since the pandemic which has undoubtedly acted as a catalyst for change. Insurers and intermediaries know that they need to harness cloud-based technologies to increase efficiencies, drive growth and deliver a better customer experience. In a hard market, the schemes space in particular presents massive opportunity for companies to develop more niche products to maximise customer value. We are the only insurtech with a 20 year heritage specialising in the Schemes market. Sean and Simon have both contributed hugely to the success of SchemeServe, so I’m delighted to announce these two additions to the Board and excited to see SchemeServe go from strength to strength.”
SchemeServe now operates more than 270 schemes and £240m of gross written premium. An established insurtech, celebrating 20 years, it now works with most of the leading schemes brokers and insurers and increased its headcount 25% in 2020 due to continued demand from the industry for innovative cloud-based insurance software solutions.
ZURICH
Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) has appointed Penny Seach as Chief Underwriting Officer for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), effective March 1, 2021. Ms. Seach will report to Sierra Signorelli, Group Chief Underwriting Officer, and Alison Martin, CEO of EMEA and Bank Distribution, and be based in Zurich, Switzerland.
Sierra Signorelli, Group Chief Underwriting Officer, said: “EMEA is a critical region for our business and to Zurich’s overall success, and I am very pleased to welcome Penny to the team. She is a passionate leader and brings extensive operational and business line experience to the role. I am confident that she will be a strong partner to the local underwriting teams while helping us further develop and implement our strategy and deliver the best solutions for our customers’ individual needs.”
In her new role, Penny will oversee all facets of the underwriting function in the region and ensure alignment with the Group’s global strategy and governance. In addition, she will focus on driving various underwriting initiatives, such as policy wording updates and the rollout of new platforms as well as enhanced data and analytics tools for Zurich’s underwriting community, working closely with the countries’ local teams.
Ms. Seach has more than 25 years of insurance industry experienced with various multinational insurance companies. She also has a strong track record of leading large diverse teams across geographies and disciplines. Ms. Seach joined Zurich in 2017 and most recently served as CEO of General Insurance, Zurich Hong Kong. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Law from the University of South Africa
PEN UNDERWRITING
Pen Underwriting has increased its investment in dedicated regional support for brokers, welcoming two new business development managers since the turn of the year. The move also ramps up capability in geographic areas with strong growth potential as Pen builds on its ambition to become a £1bn GWP underwriting and distribution business.
Dan Walker has been appointed as Business Development Manager for the North West, a newly created role to provide focused support for brokers in the area due to its significant growth opportunities. While Andy Helliwell has joined Pen this week as Business Development Manager for the Midlands, to further enhance the broker support dedicated to the region. Both will report to Nick Hewland, Area Sales Manager for Midlands & North.
Dan joins Pen from RSA in Manchester, having previously worked for Allianz in a business development role. Andy joins from Broker Insights where he was a senior business development manager bringing 20 years’ industry experience and having held a variety of senior roles across sales and broking.
P&I CLUB
North P&I Club has elected James Alexander Tyrrell as its new chair of the board, succeeding Pratap Shirke, in a seamless change at the helm of the global marine insurer that also sees Ioanna Procopiou become the Club’s first female vice-chair.
Mr Tyrrell, a director of Arklow Shipping, takes up the role from February 4, having previously served as vice-chair of the North board. His appointment continues an unbroken tradition for the North chair to be appointed from a Club Member.
The formal announcement follows full approval by the Prudential Regulation Authority, which supervises around 1,500 banks, building societies, credit unions, insurers and investment firms for the Bank of England.
Mr Tyrrell’s election reinforces North’s commitment to a growth and diversification strategy which has seen its 160th anniversary in 2020 coincide with its largest ever entered fleet. With 230M GT on the books, of which 160M GT is owned, the global mutual marine insurer also has further ambitions to strengthen its position as a leading member of the International Group of P&I Clubs (IG).
COPART
Leading online vehicle remarketing business Copart UK has appointed Richard Howe to run its central operations.
Richard, who has more than 30 years of commercial, technical, and claims experience, joins Copart from Markerstudy Insurance where he was Head of Engineering.
His appointment coincides with the opening of Copart’s new Customer Excellence Centre in Bedford, where he will be running the company’s customer service functions, including claims settlement for insurers, vehicle engineering and operational audit. Richard said:
“I’m joining Copart at a very exciting time, as the business continues to expand and invest in the continuous improvement of products and services. I am looking forward to supporting and influencing the continued growth and success of these key areas of the business.”
Richard’s new role, and the launch of the new customer centre, is part of Copart’s expansion to meet growing insurer demand.
Jane Pocock, Managing Director of Copart UK & Ireland, said: “We’re delighted to announce that our Customer Excellence Centre is now open and operational, allowing us to provide our insurer partners with world class end-to-end outsourced services and drive more returns from their vehicles.”
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