Apologies for missing a week, so there’s lots to get through today. Let’s dive in;
FCA
HM Treasury has announced the reappointment of Nikhil Rathi as Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for a second term.
Since Nikhil joined in October 2020, the FCA has undertaken reforms to strengthen the UK’s position in wholesale markets, including the biggest changes to the listing regime in over 3 decades.
The regulator has raised standards, introducing the Consumer Duty so people get the right support, communication they can understand, and products and services that meet their needs and offer fair value. With the Duty now embedded, the FCA is streamlining its rulebook, lowering costs for firms and boosting international competitiveness.
QLAIMS
Arkel, the fast-growing MGA and part of the Atec Group, has appointed Steve Lewis as Chairman, effective immediately.
Lewis brings more than 35 years of industry experience, having previously served as CEO, UK & International, at RSA Insurance Group and CEO, UK GI & Shared Services, for Zurich Insurance. A seasoned leader in large-scale transformation, he has held multiple Board and non-executive positions, including nearly a decade on the Board of the ABI and eight years with Pool Re. He currently also serves as CEO of Pro Insurance Solutions.
Since its launch six years ago, Arkel has achieved rapid and sustainable growth, reaching £42m GWP by the end of 2024, with an ambitious target to hit £100m GWP within the next five years. Lewis’s appointment follows last year’s recruitment of ex-BGL Group CEO Matthew Donaldson as Group Chairman and former BGL Group CIO Steve Woodford as CTO.
ATEC
Atec Group, the powerful insurance distribution and growth platform, has appointed Max Bullen-Smith as Head of M&A. Max was previously the Head of M&A for Ardonagh Specialty and will join Atec following his notice period.
The appointment signals Atec’s commitment to M&A as a core part of its growth strategy following a further significant investment by PE backers Perwyn, secured earlier this year. Max’s role will be to support Atec with its M&A strategy, identifying suitable targets, managing the due diligence and successful integration of the businesses. Max was at Ardonagh for the last six years, previously as Investments Director, Head of Special Projects, and latterly as Head of M&A. He also previously spent three years with Cavendish and began his career as an investment analyst.
PRO GLOBAL
Pro Global (“Pro”), a leading trusted advisor for the specialist insurance sector, is pleased to announce the appointments of experienced (re)insurance professionals Roman Hannig as Head of Client Engagement, Germany, and Oliver Schippa as Head of Product, Germany. These key hires reflect Pro Global’s ongoing commitment to expansion and client service excellence in the German market.
As an experienced lawyer and complex claims specialist, Roman joins Pro Global Germany from Gen Re Corp and will support and expand Pro’s leading (re)insurance clients’ relationships across Germany with the management of complex employee disability claims.
ALLIANZ
Allianz Partners, a world leader in insurance and assistance services, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ludovic Gros as its new Global Medical Director. In his new role, Ludovic will steer the company’s medical community, oversee medical operations strategy, and act as a strategic advisor on critical medical cases worldwide.
Ludovic joins Allianz Partners from IMA Group (Inter Mutuelles Assistance), a leading French assistance company, where he served as Medical Director since 2022. With a strong background in emergency, catastrophe and aviation medicine as a former emergency physician and Chief Flight Surgeon in the French Armed Forces, Ludovic brings over 20 years of experience across diverse organizations such as the military, international organizations, and assistance companies. Following a distinguished career as a military doctor and commanding officer, Ludovic held several significant roles, including French Director of the Aeromedical Evacuation Control Center for the European Air Transport Command in Eindhoven, Netherlands and technical director and French representative for NATO as part of the Aeromedical Working Group.
EQUIOM GUERNSEY
Equiom Guernsey has reinforced its commitment to delivering exceptional Private Wealth and Family Office services with the appointment of Alison Parry as Executive Director, Client Services.
A highly respected industry leader, Alison brings over 30 years of international experience across the UK, US, Europe, and Asia. She has held Global Head of Private Wealth roles at major financial services firms, including Intertrust Group (now CSC), and now leads Equiom’s private client and family office teams in Guernsey.
In addition, Emily Trebert also joins as Associate Director, Client Services, bringing significant expertise in multi-jurisdictional wealth structuring, asset protection, and succession planning. With a strong background in advising high-net-worth individuals and families, Emily has built a reputation for developing innovative solutions that safeguard wealth across generations. Her ability to navigate complex regulatory landscapes and deliver tailored fiduciary services makes her a valuable addition to the Equiom team.
QRG
Quick Ralf & Grant (QRG), the specialist insurance group and Lloyd’s broker, has announced it had appointed Dennis Gattinger as head of Europe, effective immediately. He will be based in Barcelona and report to Robert Ralf, CEO at QRG.
Gattinger joins QRG from Alta Signa, a specialist MGA operating across Europe, where he was head of distribution. Over the course of his career, he has held a range of senior positions at ANV and Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe (now Liberty Specialty Markets), where he joined as a Financial Lines underwriter in 2006. Prior to his career in the insurance industry, he was a Legal Advisor at Flachowsky in Karlsruhe after passing the German bar exam in 2005.
BMS GROUP
BMS Group, the specialist insurance and reinsurance broker, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jean-Jacques Henchoz to the role of Chairman of the Board, effective May 1, 2025.
Jean-Jacques Henchoz was most recently the CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of Hannover Re. He brings a wealth of executive and board experience, including over 20 years in various leadership roles with Swiss Re. During his six-year tenure as CEO of Hannover Re, the company delivered double-digit earnings growth and industry-leading ROE performance, leading to the doubling of its market capitalisation and an upgrade to the DAX-Index in Germany.
WESTFIELD SPECIALTY
Van Ameyde Marine, the global marine surveying and consultancy firm, has appointed Chris Boyd as the new Managing Director of Van Ameyde Marine, UK.
With over 30 years’ experience in the maritime industry, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the company. He started his career in the Royal Navy, specialising in hydrographic surveying, before becoming a Naval Architect and Systems Integrator. With a focus on marine cargo, heavy lift operations, and the transportation and installation of critical items, he has built a reputation as a leader in the field.
Chris has led the complex projects across multiple sectors, including oil and gas, renewables, and marine investigations and defence, advising P&I Clubs, maritime lawyers, and underwriters worldwide.
GFT
Global AI and digital transformation company GFT is deepening its footprint in the insurance sector with the appointment of Frédéric Therrien to the newly created role, Global Head of Guidewire. Central to GFT’s work with Guidewire is transforming Property and Casualty (P&C) insurers’ legacy systems through migration to Guidewire Cloud. He will lead the business unit responsible from GFT’s Canadian headquarters in Quebec, where insurance projects currently make up 35% of GFT’s business with Canadian clients.
ARCH
Arch Insurance recently announced the appointment of Paul Seip as Head of Fine Art & Specie, European Markets, with immediate effect.
Seip joins Arch Insurance (EU) dac (AIEU), which provides specialist property and casualty insurance solutions within the European Union. Based in Rotterdam, he is responsible for establishing the European Fine Art & Specie underwriting platform which spans fine art, general specie, jewellers block and cash in transit insurance. Seip will work closely with Peter Brooks, Head of Fine Art & Specie, Global Markets, Arch Insurance International.
Seip brings over 12 years of experience in the fine art & specie sector, most recently as Fine Art & Specie Underwriting Manager, Benelux & Scandinavia at Liberty Specialty Markets. He has also held roles at AXA ART and Allianz.
ACRISURE
Acrisure has announced the appointment of Mark Wassersug as Chief Technology Officer and Shawn Pelsinger as Chief Administrative Officer, effective later this month.
“As Acrisure enters its next phase of growth, Mark and Shawn bring extensive experience with scaled financial technology companies,” said Greg Williams, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Acrisure. “Their expertise will be key as we expand our global technology platform and build a differentiated business.”
“These leaders possess a deep understanding of the fintech sector and, importantly, how to drive transformational growth in innovative, fast-paced companies,” said John Tuttle, President of Acrisure. “They will be invaluable assets to Acrisure at this stage of our journey.”
SKULD
Skuld, a leading global marine insurer, is delighted to announce key appointments that reinforce Skuld’s growth ambitions, strengthen its service capabilities, and solidify its position as a world leader in marine insurance.
Thea Thorstensen, (ABOVE) senior vice president, who has been with Skuld for more than 10 years and has been responsible for successfully leading the Western European business unit, will transition to the global business development team. In this new role, she will play a crucial role in supporting Skuld’s global growth strategy. Gregory Thomas, chief business development officer, said: “Thea brings with her not only a deep-rooted knowledge of the business but also a tremendous amount of energy. I am delighted she has chosen to join the global business development team, focussing on the European region.”
Nicola Kingman (ABOVE) joins Skuld from the Shipowners’ Club. She is recognised as one of the leading personalities in the superyacht insurance world and joins Skuld in September as the global head of yachts. Her appointment is intended to support Skuld in realising its stated ambition of becoming the number one provider of P&I to the global superyacht community.
These appointments are part of Skuld’s defined growth strategy and demonstrate its commitment to providing its members and clients with the best service and solutions across all marine insurance lines.
ASR
Africa Specialty Risks (“ASR”), the developing markets focused (re)insurance group, announces the appointment of Trevor Oates as head of reinsurance. Trevor will be responsible for ceded reinsurance purchasing across the whole ASR group, which maintains underwriting balance sheets in Bermuda, Mauritius, and at Lloyd’s through Syndicate 2454.
He will also work closely with ASR’s multiple capacity partners, including leading Syndicates who support ASR through the Africa focused Baobab consortium at Lloyd’s. Trevor joins from Canopius, where he spent 25 years in a range of underwriting roles, most recently as a treaty underwriter. While at the company, he wrote a portfolio of property, construction, engineering, political violence and terrorism.
DALLAS SCOTT DAVEY
A leading specialist in agricultural and commercial insurance, Dallas Scott Davey (DSD), has appointed Toby Baker as part of its strategic growth and ongoing specialisation in estates and farm insurance. DSD is part of Yorkshire headquartered insurance broking and risk management firm, TL Dallas.
Toby, a highly experienced rural risks insurance broker, will be an integral part of the Lincoln team, heading up the company’s expansion into Northamptonshire and the surrounding counties.
Toby lives in Pilton, Northamptonshire, and joins DSD, which is part of the TL Dallas Group, following a long and successful career at Lycetts. He will focus on serving farming and estate clients across Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Warwickshire, and beyond. As part of DSD’s expansion strategy, the company also plans to establish a satellite office within a livestock mart, providing a local physical presence to better serve clients in the region.
HFW
Global, sector-focused law firm HFW has boosted its regulatory practice with the hire of senior competition lawyer Emma Thomas.
Emma has 20 years’ experience of competition law matters, and joins HFW’s London office from Direct Line Group, where she was Head of Competition and Anti-Bribery. She was previously Senior Legal Counsel at Barclays and also held roles at Clifford Chance and Shell (on secondment).
Alex Kyriakoulis, Global Head of Corporate & Commercial, HFW:
“Emma is an outstanding lawyer with extensive experience advising Boards and C-level leadership on sensitive and complex competition law issues, and brings invaluable client-side perspective as a former in-house counsel, which is really important to how we work at HFW. As well as supporting clients across our core sectors on competition and anti-bribery, we also see opportunities for Emma to work alongside our leading corporate insurance team, given her industry background. We’re very pleased to welcome her to the firm.”
Emma advises clients on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious matters relating to competition, anti-bribery and corruption, and financial crime. She also advises clients on compliance training and managing teams.
POLE STAR GLOBAL
Pole Star Global, the leader in maritime intelligence and regulatory compliance solutions, has announced the appointment of two key strategic executives, accelerating their mission to deliver next-generation maritime risk analytics and operational intelligence.
Matt Morgan joins as Chief Product Officer (CPO), and Saleem Khan joins as Chief Data & Analytics Officer (CDAO). Both leaders bring decades of experience in maritime technology, data analytics, and risk management. Their expertise and leadership will play pivotal roles in driving Pole Star’s next phase of innovation and global expansion.
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