It’s time for the latest job moves and senior appointments round up, so let’s crack on.
ARMD
ARMD announces that Mark Hands has joined as Director of Business Development to support delivery of ARMD’s ambitious growth targets and create long-term value with broker partners.
Prior to joining ARMD, Mark was MD of Construction Shield and Board Director of Aedis Homeproof. Before that, he was Head of Trading (North) for LV= Broker & Head of Regional Operations (North) at NIG.
Devin Chawda, CEO at ARMD, said: “We are delighted to have someone of Mark’s standing in the broker market join ARMD. In his new role, he will be pivotal in supporting the delivery of our ambitious growth objectives, as well raising our profile as the leading provider of tradespersons’ products in the UK.
“Mark is a proven business leader, with over 30 years’ experience in the insurance sector, known for his successful track record in growing profitable insurance businesses. His results-orientated approach and focus on developing long-term and mutually beneficial relationships around the UK will all be a huge asset to ARMD.”
APEX GROUP
Apex Group has appointed a new Managing Director of ApexInvest. Based in Abu Dhabi, John Papesh is the global head of Apex Invest, focusing on advisory, capital raising and distribution solutions.
This announcement follows the launch of Apex Invest in June 2023 after the re-brand of Context365’s technology platform, associated conferences, and events series. ApexInvest designed to connect fund managers, allocators and service providers, allowing them to build their networks and efficiently identify and evaluate investment opportunities.
This significant strategic development reinforces Apex Group’s mission to be the global leader in financial services by offering an innovative single-source solution which unlocks further value for clients and generates additional growth for the company. Apex Invest is well positioned to provide new and existing managers who are always in need of raising and deploying capital with a solution that uniquely leverages the Apex Group’s global ecosystem of LPs and GPs.
MIB
The MIB has announced Angus Eaton as its new CEO, taking over from Dominic Clayden in July.
Angus will take up the role after more than four years as Group Chief Risk Officer at Hastings Group and brings a wealth of experience in a career spanning three decades, including 13 years in various leadership roles at Aviva. He has held executive positions in a wide range of business functions including commercial, legal, strategy and transformation and more recently risk and compliance.
Angus takes over from Dominic on 1 July. Dominic will stay on at MIB as a strategic advisor until the end of the year, working alongside Angus to ensure a smooth and effective transition.
BMS RE
BMS Re, the specialty reinsurance arm of the global broking group BMS, announces the appointment of six new hires to its dedicated MGA business, ProLink Solutions (“ProLink”). The hires include one executive vice president, Alicia Santocki, two senior vice presidents, Scott Fields and Stephanie Fick, two assistant vice presidents, Colin Curran, and Charles Ill, with Cora Cruz joining the team as an executive assistant. Additionally, Brenda Martinez-Cox, assistant vice president, is being promoted to technical broker.
Founded within BMS Re in mid-2023, ProLink Solutions has rapidly become one of the largest brokers in the programs sector. ProLink’s reach now encompasses programs worth nearly $6 billion of premium across more than 50 insurance carrier relationships. Among MGAs/MGUs, ProLink works with 20 of the largest programs and more than 80 program managers. With the ProLink team previously consisting of 15 individuals, these appointments represent a 40% growth in personnel, increasing the team’s capacity to support raising demand for their experitse.
Santocki joins ProLink having previously been a partner and managing director of GMG assurance and vice chair of the data privacy team at Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP. Fields joins having previously worked as managing director of a captive management company in Atlanta, resuming his reinsurance career at ProLink Solutions. Fick most recently worked as a VP senior treaty underwriter at Swiss Re. Curran joins the team from Berkley Asset Protection, Cruz joins from ScotiaBank Equity Capital Markets, and Ill joins from Aon. Martinez-Cox is promoted to technical broker having joined BMS Re in January 2024 from Biberk Insurance Company.
PARATUS HOLDINGS
Paratus Holdings Limited (“Paratus”), announces the appointment of Russell Day as Chief Financial Officer. Russell will join the Paratus senior leadership team, responsible for the business’ financial operations. The appointment represents the next stage of development for Paratus as a business and follows the recent completion of a growth equity investment in Paratus Group by ARA Partners.
Russell has held various senior finance roles accumulating extensive experience within the energy sector. Prior to joining Paratus, Russell spent 29 years at Morgan Stanley. His most recent role was as Co-CFO/Co-Head of Product Control within the EMEA Institutional Securities Group. Russell also holds non-executive and advisory roles, including at Integrals Power Limited, a startup battery technology developer.
DWF
DWF, the global provider of integrated legal and business services, has welcomed Jim Bryant as a new partner in its Insurance Services division.
Jim joins DWF after 10 years at Weightmans where he worked as legacy sector lead. He has more than 20 years of expertise in delivering legal and commercial solutions to the insurance industry and UK and global corporates. With a particular interest and expertise in discontinued insurance business, Jim has advised run-off managers and acquirers of run-off books of business on all claims-related matters, both pre- and post-portfolio acquisition. As an integral part of Jim’s day-to-day practice, he has also been instructed by the insurance market on a number of successful group actions.
Based out of DWF’s Liverpool office, Jim will be working with the business’ London Markets team and global locations.
GBN RISK SOLUTIONS
GBN Worldwide Risk Solutions Ltd. (“GBNRS”), the London-based specialty MGA announces that it has expanded its Leadership Team with the appointment of Houssam Yehya as director and group head of international. He will be based in London and report to Jamil Elbahou, chairman of Silverbrook Holdings, the parent company of GBN Worldwide and the ConnectUW Holdings Group.
Yehya will be responsible for the development and operations of GBNRS, which launched in February to enable brokers to place risks in territories beyond their jurisdictions in over 150 countries via the GBN Worldwide network’s 10,000+ insurance and risk management professionals.
Yehya brings more than 15 years of re/insurance industry experience to GBNRS, having worked with the Group since the start of his career.
GENERALI
Generali Global Corporate & Commercial (GC&C) warmly welcomes Patricia Puerta as the new Head of GC&C Mediterranean & Latin America, effective May 2, 2024. Puerta is taking over from Carlos Gomez, who has led the region since 2013 and who recently moved into the position of GC&C Head of Insurance.
In her new role, Puerta will oversee corporate and commercial operations across the Mediterranean region (excluding Italy and Greece), as well as Latin America. Aligned with the Group’s strategic vision – “Lifetime Partner 24: Driving Growth” – and its unwavering commitment to profitable expansion, she will focus on driving sustainable growth initiatives. This includes identifying opportunities for business
development and operational efficiency enhancements, and further strengthening GC&C’s presence and impact across the region.
Commenting on the appointment, Christian Kanu, GC&C CEO, stated: “I am very happy to extend a sincere welcome to Patricia as she joins our organization. Patricia brings a wealth of market knowledge, mastered through her extensive tenure in the insurance industry. Her addition to our team reinforces our strategic outlook for the region and positions us for sustained success. I am confident that Patricia will play a pivotal role in driving meaningful change and fostering profitable growth across the Mediterranean and Latin American region. I would like to thank Carlos for his excellent performance and strong results delivered with the team over his 11-year tenure.”
COVER WHALE
Cover Whale Insurance Solutions, Inc. a leading insurtech specializing in connected insurance for commercial auto insurance, today announced two new hires to its senior leadership team. Barninder Khurana joins as Chief Product Officer and Bill Hart assumes the role of Chief Architect.
Khurana steps into his role with a wealth of experience in product management, program delivery, and strategic leadership. Most recently, Khurana served as Chief Information Officer at GeoVera where he led multiple teams in successfully delivering complex projects and building innovative digital products. As Chief Product Officer, he will oversee developments in Cover Whale’s industry-leading quoting and binding platform, as well as the continuous improvement of customer experience through research, testing and product development.
“Cover Whale recognizes that true product excellence goes beyond the user interface to include a blend of technology, processes, and innovative strategies,” said Khurana. “Looking at the world from our customers’ eyes, my goal is to enrich this integration to enable speed, access, and ease of use, building on Cover Whale’s creativity to pull us even further ahead in the commercial auto insurtech sector.”
FRONT STREET RE
Edison Fong has been appointed as the new CEO, expanding its technology-driven solutions for reinsurance. Edison will be looking to support medium sized insurance brands, helping them to grow their offer in the US market.
Be the first to comment