It’s time once again for the weekly job moves round-up, so let’s get into it;
ROOT PLATFORM
Root Platform (Root), the low-code, API-first, end-to-end insurance technology platform provider, is pleased to announce that Alex Astengo has joined the company as UK Country Manager, based in London. In his role, Alex is tasked with developing Root’s UK presence with the aim of becoming the go-to platform for insurance businesses intent on growing their digital offering.Alex has significant experience working for SaaS platform-based businesses, which offer solutions to insurers, MGAs and brokers. His most recent experience was with Cloud Insurance as Head of Sales in the UK, and was formerly Chief Commercial Officer for SchemeServe Insurance Software.
CHUBB
Chubb has announced the appointment of Anna Källs as Country Manager for Sweden and Finland, effective from February 1. In her new role Källs will be responsible for Chubb’s property and casualty, and accident and health operations across Sweden and Finland.
Källs joins Chubb from Willis Towers Watson (WTW) where she was Head of Large & Complex Business and Practice Leader for Liability since 2022. She succeeds Margaretha Mo who has left the business to pursue other opportunities. She will be based in Stockholm and will report to Paul Woodgate, Regional Executive Officer, Northern Region.
Källs has almost two decades of experience in the insurance industry. Starting out as an intern at Sweden’s If Insurance in 2007, she held a variety of roles at the carrier including Key Account Manager, Affinity and Head of Underwriting for commercial business before joining WTW in 2019. She has a Masters degree in Commercial and Business Law from Linköping University in Sweden.
VERLINGUE
Chartered insurance broker Verlingue Ltd. (Verlingue) has made two significant appointments as it continues to grow and expand its Northen team.
Jackie McEnery (above) has been appointed as Sales Director – North with responsibility for developing the broker’s presence across the North West and Yorkshire regions. Gary Eaton (below) has been recruited as a senior Client Director to add further corporate and construction expertise to the business.
The appointments are part of the broker’s ongoing strategy to expand its offering of risk management, broking, and employee benefits propositions to mid-corporate sized businesses.
Jackie McEnery, who has over 30 years’ experience in driving transformational change, joins from Hiscox where she was Regional Manager for the North West. Previous experience includes head of operations for Zurich Private Clients, and senior roles at RSA including head of personal lines broker operations.
Gary Eaton, a Chartered Insurance Broker, FCII and a qualified Loss Adjuster, has over 30 years’ insurance experience and joins from Aon where he was client director. Previous experience includes senior client roles at Towergate Insurance and Marsh.
LONDON MARKET GROUP
The London Market Group’s (LMG) Data Council recently announced the creation of a Core Data Record (CDR) committee chaired by Cassandra Vukorep, Chief Data Officer at Lloyd’s and supported by LIMOSS. It will include representation from the IUA, LIIBA, LMA, Lloyd’s, ACORD and Velonetic.
The CDR committee joins the existing Market Reform Contract (MRC) committee chaired by James Livett, Associate Director at LIIBA, which has been substantially updated following the release of MRCv3.
The CDR is a key component of the market digitalisation and will provide a set of standardised, quality transactional data that empowers downstream processing. However, by the nature of its contents, the CDR will continue to evolve; for example to accommodate changes in tax and regulatory requirements, so having a process for review and robust governance is essential.
VIPR SOLUTIONS
VIPR Solutions (VIPR) is pleased to announce the appointment of ex-Charles Taylor Latha Horne as its new IT Operations ManagerLatha brings over two decades of experience and a strong track record in IT operations and customer service management, having previously worked at Charles Taylor and the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation).In her new role at VIPR, Latha will oversee the IT operations, ensuring the smooth running of systems and driving efficiency and innovation across the company’s technology landscape. Her expertise in managing complex IT infrastructures and her ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with diverse teams will be invaluable in her new position.
ASCOT GROUP
Ascot Group has announced it will strengthen its U.S. Excess Casualty team with four key leadership appointments this month: Ashley Hofler Hunley joins as Vice President, Southeast; Erin Osborne joins as Vice President, Northeast; Shawna Hadjipateras joins as Vice President, West; and Brian DelTufo joins as Vice President, Construction Product Lead.
“The Ascot team is wholly committed to helping our clients navigate the ever-changing risks found in the Excess Casualty market. Ashley, Erin, Shawna, and Brian all join us with significant regional experience, a deep understanding of the market, and long-established relationships in the space. They will make a certain and immediate impact as we grow our Excess Casualty book across the U.S.,” said Jeff Canfield, Ascot U.S. Head of Casualty.
AON
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) has announced that Jose Antonio Álvarez, former CEO of Santander, has been appointed to its Board of Directors, effective Jan. 25, 2024.
“We are pleased to welcome Jose Antonio to Aon’s Board of Directors,” said Lester B. Knight, chair of Aon’s board. “His experience in his role as CEO of Santander and his global financial and management background will bring enhanced expertise to our Board. We’re looking forward to gaining new insights from the experience he brings to the Board, which will support Aon in the firm’s work in helping clients make better business decisions.”
Álvarez served as Group CEO of Santander from 2015 to 2022 and currently serves as a non-executive director and vice chair of Santander’s Board of Directors, where he sits on the executive and innovation & technology committees. He joined Santander in 2002 and served as senior executive vice president and chief financial officer from 2004 to 2014, before being appointed group CEO.
DEFAQTO
Defaqto, one of the UK’s most trusted sources of financial product and market intelligence, has announced the appointment of Sally Boyle as Chief Sales Officer (CSO), joining the Defaqto board and leadership team. The role will drive forward the way in which Defaqto engages with its customers and partners, further accelerating its impressive growth.
CARBON UNDERWRITING
Carbon Underwriting Limited (Carbon) the specialist, independent managing general underwriter and Lloyd’s syndicate, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dale Willetts as Head of Specialty in addition to supporting the development of Carbon’s technology capabilities. Dale brings a wealth of leadership and Specialty underwriting experience to the role and his priority this year will be to spearhead the development and growth of Carbon’s Accident & Health (A&H) proposition.Before joining Carbon, Dale was Executive Vice President, Head of Specialty Lines, for Sompo International for five years where he built the A&H portfolio. In a distinguished career spanning 30 years, he has also held leadership roles with ANV, Travelers and other specialty underwriters in the field.
MBM COMMERCIAL
MBM Commercial welcomes the addition of Simon Hart, a skilled Banking & Finance Lawyer, to its team. Mr Hart will join the firm as a Partner and will spearhead the expansion and development of the firm’s non-contentious banking practice.With a strong track record and a wealth of experience in the legal field, Mr Hart joins MBM Commercial from Shoosmiths. His extensive expertise in banking and finance law, includes over 10 years’ experience of acting for borrowers, mainstream lenders, institutional lenders and debt funds. This coupled with his proven leadership skills, make him a valuable asset to MBM Commercial as it continues to grow and enhance its services.
J3
DNA Payments Group, one of the largest independent, integrated omnichannel payments companies in the UK and EU, has appointed former Head of Unified Commerce from Adyen, Jan-Pieter (JP) Lips as its new Chief Executive Officer.
JP will be responsible for DNA Payments’ next period of growth as the company continues to develop and provide simple, unified payments into fast growing vertical market sectors such as restaurants and specialist retail.
Founders of DNA Payments Arif Babayev and Nurlan Zhagiparov said: “We are delighted to have secured JP as CEO. He brings with him more than two decades of immense experience after founding Nectar and at the highest level at Adyen. His passion for customer experience means that he was the outstanding candidate for the role and in the perfect person to take DNA to even greater heights.
MDS GROUP
MDS Group, part of The Ardonagh Group, announces the appointment of Álvaro Mengotti as an executive board member.
Mengotti was most recently Chief International and Reinsurance Officer at March Risk Solutions (part of Banca March Group). He previously led AIG Iberia for 12 years where he worked closely with MDS and the Portuguese market and was also a member of the LATAM ExCo in AIG between 2012 and 2016. His career began at Gil y Carvajal and he was a board member of Reliance National Europe.
He has held several roles within trade associations including as a board member of the Spanish Insurance Employers’ Association UNESPA and as Vice President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Spain.
At MDS Group he will work closely with Group CEO José Manuel Fonseca, Group CFO José Diogo Silva and Group COO and Portugal CEO Ricardo Pinto dos Santos to identify growth opportunities across Spain and Latin America.
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