Just a few recent job moves and appointments updates for you;
HISCOX
Leading global specialist insurer, Hiscox, today announces the appointment of Matthew Budd to the newly created role of Group Head of Technical Claims.
Matthew has a 36-year career in claims, with extensive experience across multiple classes of business. He joins Hiscox from AIG, where he led the group’s aerospace claims, and has also held a range of roles at Talbot Underwriting including Head of Claims and Head of Wordings and Contracts and Delegated Authorities. Prior to joining Talbot, he was the Aviation Claims Manager at XL London Market.
In his new role at Hiscox, Matthew will be based in London and report to Steve Parry, Group Claims Director. He will be responsible for overseeing the Group’s technical claims operations as the business continues to fulfil its growth ambitions and deliver innovative solutions to customers.
HOWDEN
Bridge Specialty International (BSI) has appointed Abhishek Chhajer as Chief Executive at Acorn International Network Pte and Director at Capstone Insurance Brokers, both Bridge Specialty International companies based in Singapore and Hong Kong, respectively.
Abhishek brings 25 years of experience in banking and insurance in senior management, underwriting and broking positions. Based in Singapore, he will lead the growth and development of the BSI business across the Asia region from the two existing platforms in Singapore and Hong Kong. He assumed this role on 1st August.
David Ong, a co-founder of Acorn International Network, will step down as CEO and assume the role of Chairman, remaining active in the business for the foreseeable future.
ACQUINEX
Acquinex, the specialist financial lines Managing General Agent, has strengthened its leadership team with a series of key appointments as it looks to capitalise on recent market momentum. Both co-founders Chris Jackson and Chris Thompson will move into new roles within PIB Group, as Josh Cowen joins the Acquinex business this week as CEO. Alongside Josh joining the business, Henry Pearson has been appointed as Head of UK – W&I and Matthew Andrews joins as Head of Title.
Josh Cowen joins Acquinex from Chubb, where he was Senior Vice President, International Transactional Risk. His experience in the insurance and MGA sector has seen him hold roles at Aviva, AIG and Fusion Specialty. He will report directly into PIB Group’s specialty business and will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the business.
With Josh Cowen’s arrival, Chris Jackson moves into a newly created role responsible for PIB Group’s Specialty MGA strategy. This role will see him focus on the company’s growth strategy into broader Specialty markets, which began earlier this year as he led the acquisition of Litica. Both Acquinex and Litica will report into Chris Jackson as specialist brands leading niche markets. Chris Thompson will assume a head of product development role within PIB Group’s wider MGA businesses.
DAVIES
Davies, the leading specialist professional services and technology firm serving insurance and highly regulated markets, has announced the promotion of Richard Barke as CEO of its Insurance Solutions division.
Richard, formerly Chief Financial Officer at Davies-owned Asta, brings over 20 years of industry experience. He has held several senior positions at Asta and previously worked at Aspen and KPMG. In his new role, Richard will be responsible for overseeing operations and shaping the division’s growth strategy, working closely with Davies’ wider global leadership team to advance the firm’s continued investment in technology and innovation.
Davies’ Insurance Solutions team supports Lloyd’s syndicates, MGAs, brokers, insurers, reinsurers and captive owners, assisting with underwriting and broking management, outsourced operations and risk transfer, as well as helping businesses navigate legal, regulatory and operational challenges while building distribution capability.
CHUBB
Chubb Limited (NYSE: CB) has announced that Steve Haney, Vice President, Chubb Group and currently Division President of North America Surety and Chief Underwriting Officer of Global Surety, has been promoted to President and Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) of Global Surety. Steve will be succeeded by Teresa Black, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of North America Surety, who has been promoted to Division President of North America Surety. Both appointments are effective immediately.
In this new role, Steve will have executive operating responsibilities for strategy, underwriting, and Profit and Loss (P&L) across Chubb’s Global Surety business. He will report to Juan Luis Ortega, Executive Vice President, Chubb Group and President of North America Insurance, and Paul McNamee, Executive Vice President, Chubb Group and President of Overseas General Insurance.
BLENHEIM UNDERWRITING
Blenheim Underwriting announces the appointment of Alex Stratton-Thomsett as casualty underwriter, effective 8th January, 2026. In his new role, Stratton-Thomsett will join David Barber, senior casualty underwriter, in the build out of the MGA casualty account.
Stratton-Thomsett brings with him 25 years of experience and expertise in the casualty market, joining from MS Amlin, where he was lead underwriter, US casualty. The role reunites him with Barber after a successful 14 years together at Chaucer.
Barber said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Alex to the team, marking a significant step forward in the expansion of our casualty MGA book and making it one of the stronger units in this specialist marketplace . It’s another endorsement of our independent structure, which continues to attract top-tier underwriting talent, that can sometimes get lost in larger organisations.”
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