It’s time for the latest job moves news, so here goes;
ACCELERANT
Accelerant, the insurtech empowering underwriters with superior risk exchange, data analytics, and long-term capacity commitments, today
announced that Pete Horst has joined as Chief Technology Officer. Horst will lead Accelerant’s global platform strategy and development.
A software executive who excels at leveraging technology, Horst most recently served as Vice President of Engineering for business analytics platform Qlik, where he brought their platform to the cloud as an Enterprise SaaS offering. Before that, Horst held software development and engineering roles at IBM and Cognos.
“Accelerant at its core is a data and technology company. We are thrilled to welcome Pete to our team to lead our risk exchange initiatives to meet the needs of our Members and risk capital partners,” said Jeff Radke, CEO and co-founder of Accelerant. “His expertise and strategic partnership will expand our industry leadership, authority and vision as we explore new frontiers.”
SWISS RE
Swiss Re’s Group Chief Investment Officer and Country President Switzerland, Guido Fürer, has decided to retire effective 31 March 2023, after 25 years with the Company and having served as Group CIO for a full decade. Guido Fürer, Swiss Re’s Group Chief Investment Officer, said: “After a 35-year-long, fulfilling career in the financial sector, I want to enjoy more time with my family and dedicate myself to my pro bono activities on various foundation boards.”
Christian Mumenthaler, Swiss Re’s Group Chief Executive Officer, said: “While we fully respect Guido’s decision, we will miss him and his relentless commitment to the Company. Guido also has continuously reinforced Swiss Re’s stature as one of the cornerstones of the Swiss financial center.”
BMS Re
BMS Re, the specialty reinsurance broker, announces the appointment of Chris McDowell as CEO of BMS Re Bermuda, effective November 26th, 2022, following completion of his notice period and any requisite regulatory approvals. Mario Binetti also joins as head of casualty treaty and actuarial for BMS Re Bermuda, effective immediately. McDowell and Binetti will both be based in Bermuda.
McDowell has had a long and distinguished career of more than 30 years in reinsurance, operating at the most senior levels. He joins BMS Re from his most recent role as CEO of Gallagher Re Bermuda (formerly Willis Re Bermuda). Prior to this, McDowell worked at Aon Benfield where he was CEO of Global Re Specialty in Bermuda.
Binetti, with more than 30 years’ experience in reinsurance, joins from Everest Re Bermuda, where he served as head of casualty treaty underwriting and actuarial. Before this, he was senior vice president and chief actuary at JRG Re in Bermuda.
Adam Mullan, executive chairman of BMS Re Bermuda, commented: “BMS Re’s independence and resolute commitment to our clients is attracting some of the industry’s leading talent. Following our launch of BMS Re Bermuda in Q4 2021, these hires signify our commitment to building an exceptional team.
SPOTLITE CLAIMS
Spotlite Claims, the specialist loss adjuster to the film, TV and creative industries, has appointed Alex Nicoll (pictured) to a senior adjusting and business development role, as the firm continues to broaden its reach in other classes of entertainment insurance including event cancellation and non-appearance, and in the sporting arena.
Alex joined Spotlite at the beginning of September from his previous role at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), where for two years he led on contract and project management for the DCMS team overseeing the £500m UK Government emergency Covid-19 Film and TV Production Restart Scheme.
Marion Jones, Managing Director of Spotlite, explained that she first came across Alex on Restart, the government-backed programme to assist film and TV businesses during the pandemic for which Spotlite Claims was appointed as scheme adjusters
Marion said: “During the Covid period, we worked closely with Alex. We were highly impressed by his efficiency and previous experience of underwriting, broking film and tv insurance and his hands-on actual production experience. It did not escape my attention that Alex is also a qualified lawyer.”
ATHORA
Athora Holding Ltd. (“Athora” or “the Group”), a leading European savings and retirement services group, has today confirmed the appointment of Mike Wells as Group Chief Executive Officer. This follows the receipt of regulatory approvals.
Mr Wells is a seasoned leader in global insurance having spent 26 years at Prudential plc, including seven years as CEO. As CEO, Mr Wells delivered meaningful shareholder value through executing two strategic demergers, accelerating the development of an Asian shareholder base through a successful equity issuance on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and transitioning the company into an Asian and African focused life and health insurer.
Ward Bobitz is also confirmed as Group General Counsel following the receipt of regulatory approvals. Mr Bobitz has over three decades of international legal experience including 25 years at Genworth Financial, Inc., a Fortune 500, NYSE-listed global insurance group, where he was most recently Executive Vice President and General Counsel.
Following receipt of these regulatory approvals, Mr Wells and Mr Bobitz join Athora’s Group Management Executive Committee with immediate effect.
SPROUT.AI
Sprout.ai – the fast-growth technology company automating claims automation for insurers – has appointed Hannah Atack as Chief People Officer, and Vishal Madaan as Head of Customer Engagement.
Hannah Atack joins Sprout.ai as Chief People Officer with 20 years experience in HR and over a decade of working with tech startups, supporting business transformation and change strategy through HR. As CPO at Sprout.ai, she will be supporting the business’ global scaling strategy to ensure it attracts, grows and enables the best talent. Hannah is passionate about helping startups and scaleups grow and reach their objectives and is a mentor at the Startup and Scale Up Club, where she leads weekly Q&A sessions as a global people, operational and talent expert.
Before joining Sprout.ai, Vishal Madaan was Director of Customer Success at Arkivum, where he managed client relationships and reduced customer churn by achieving a customer renewal rate of 95%. Vishal joins Sprout as Head of Customer Engagement with over 14 years of customer engagement and success experience in a wide range of IT businesses and startups.
To date, the business has raised a total of £10.5 million in funding from Octopus Ventures, Amadeus Capital Partners and Playfair Capital. Sprout.ai is a Techstars 2019 alumni graduate. Sprout.ai has been shortlisted for three Insurance Times’ Tech and Innovation Awards for Best Technology Partner of the Year, Best Use of Technology Supplier for Customer Experience and Best use of AI.
GRP
Sarah Hyman has been appointed Retail Operations Director at Global Risk Partners, a Brown & Brown, Inc. company. Sarah began her role at the beginning of September, reporting to CEO Retail, Duncan Carter.
Duncan Carter explained that Sarah’s role will be to support the overall growth plans for the Retail division, deliver customer and operational excellence via system optimisation and process alignment, and implement operational strategies to drive efficiencies in the business.
“This is a key role for the Retail Division and Sarah has the experience and capability we need.”
Duncan added: “Retail has been the engine room for GRP’s M&A activities over the years, but we are equally focused on organic growth. Capturing, managing and using the vast data pool from our businesses, and creating a slick, integrated operation is a key component in delivering year on year growth. It’s great that we have brought Sarah into the team to build on the work which has already been done in this direction, and lead our operational development into the future”
BRACE UNDERWRITING
Brace Underwriting Limited (Brace) announces the appointment of Tom Sambrook as head of underwriting where he will oversee underwriting strategy, market engagement and capacity partnerships. Based in London and reporting to Adam Holberry, co-founder and chief executive officer, Sambrook joins Brace from Hiscox where he has held various roles since 2012. Most recently he held the role of interim line underwriter within the Alternative Risk book – a diversified portfolio of MGA partnerships with coverage across various territories.
Holberry said: “Tom is an excellent fit for Brace and his experience within the Alternative Risk space will be a significant boost to our broker, coverholder and capacity partnerships as we explore opportunities to strategically expand the business. This appointment further represents Brace’s continued investment in market leading talent, representing our commitment to build an exclusive number of diverse MGA relationships; each one a niche sector specialist.
“Tom’s appointment will allow us to further execute upon the significant opportunity that the market presents in 2023 and beyond. His diverse experience makes him the perfect addition to the Brace leadership team and I look forward to working with him whilst we continue to provide the innovative solutions that our partners within the global multi-line MGA space require.”
CANOPIUS
Canopius Group, a leading global specialty (re)insurer, announces the appointment of Megan Shao as head of claims, APAC, effective immediately. She joins following Canopius’ strategic restructure and will report to Mark Newman, CEO, APAC and Gabrielle Folliard, chief claims officer.
Megan brings more than 14 years of specialist claims experience and extensive regional expertise. She previously worked for Zurich as head of claims, Technical Centre, Hong Kong and head of financial lines & casualty claims, Asia. Prior to this she worked at Chubb as claims manager, financial lines, Greater China.
Mark said: “I am delighted to welcome Megan to the Asia Pacific team. Our regional success continues to be built on our ability to attract exceptionally talented people and empower them in their roles. Megan will add significant experience and leadership to our team with her regional knowledge across multiple jurisdictions and a broad range of product classes. Paying claims is what our industry does, and I am confident Megan will further improve our overall service standards, strengthen our specialty expertise and be a key member of our regional leadership team.”
INSTANDA
INSTANDA, the no-code core insurance platform has announced the appointment of Liz Prior to its executive leadership team and the role of Chief Financial Officer.
Her appointment comes at a pivotal moment for INSTANDA as it moves to expand its geographical presence in Europe, US, Japan, and the UAE as well as to enhance its platform capabilities with the latest $45 million fundraising led by Toscafund.
Liz joins INSTANDA and its mission to accelerate change and innovation in the insurance sector by digitizing the complex value chain with the most adaptive, fast and best value end-to-end no-code core platform for carriers and managing general agents (MGAs). A qualified actuary, she brings more than 13 years of experience in insurance, most recently as Managing Director at Hiscox Insurance Company Guernsey.
In this role, Liz will be responsible for optimising the business, developing finance and business strategies that further strengthen INSTANDA’s growth, and partnering with the company’s management team, the Board and investors on key decisions to drive the business forward.
PHOENIX GROUP
Phoenix Group, the UK’s largest long-term savings and retirement business, has made two key appointments to its Executive Committee with Bríd Meaney promoted to Heritage CEO, following the news that Andy Moss, Life Companies CEO and Heritage Group Director, is to retire after 18 years at the company and Jackie Noakes joins as Chief Transformation Officer.
Bríd Meaney joined the Group in 2021 and has worked closely with Andy Moss since then and prior to joining Phoenix Group she served as a Partner for the KPMG Advisory business for more than a decade.
The Company has also created a new role of Chief Transformation Officer where Jackie Noakes will lead and enhance Phoenix Group’s change capability, driving and overseeing the Group’s change projects. She joins from the Bank of Ireland where she served as Group Chief Operating Officer. Prior to this, she held senior roles at both Legal & General and American Express, including CEO of Mature Savings at Legal & General.
The two appointments increase the female ratio on Phoenix Group’s Executive Committee to more than 42%. In addition, more than half of the current Phoenix Group board is now made up of women.
ANIMAL FRIENDS
Leading UK pet insurance provider, Animal Friends, has appointed Laura Barry as Chief Financial Officer.
Westley Pearson, CEO Animal Friends Insurance said, “We are delighted to welcome Laura to Animal Friends. Laura has extensive financial experience across several industries including retail, telecommunications and financial services. Her understanding of financial planning, control, business partnering and change management will be instrumental in helping us to further elevate and strengthen our strategic plans, both for the benefit of our colleagues and customers.”
Laura joins Animal Friends from the Lending Standards Board where she has been Finance Director responsible for shaping financial strategy and growth for the independent UK banking oversight and assurance provider. Prior to that Laura spent nearly nine years of her career at Tesco in various roles including Head of International Finance and Head of Finance – Transformation.
Ahead of her appointment, Laura said, “I am inspired by how much Animal Friends Insurance gives back to worthy animal and environmental charities and uses the power of its voice and its like-minded customers to drive improvements in animal welfare. They are a high-performing, dynamic and genuine organisation, and I am very pleased to join the team during this exciting time’’.
Be the first to comment