Job Moves and Senior Appointments 22.06.2026 -

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It’s time once more for a round up of the latest job moves, let’s get busy;

QBE

QBE has appointed Callum O’Brien as Head of P&I, Asia, in a move that strengthens its British Marine offering in a region central to the group’s marine ambitions.

Based in Singapore, O’Brien will be responsible for the performance and development of British Marine’s P&I portfolio across Asia, reporting to Richard Inman, Portfolio Manager, British Marine P&I.

O’Brien joins from one of the International Group P&I Clubs, where he served as an Underwriting Director in Singapore, overseeing underwriting activities across Asia and leading the development of the Club’s small craft portfolio. He brings more than a decade of P&I experience across both brown and blue water segments, including time underwriting in London. He succeeds Sebastian Tjornelund, who previously held the role before being appointed as Asia Head, Underwriting, Marine, to lead QBE’s marine business in the region.

ZESTYAI

ZestyAI, the Risk Decision Platform for the insurance industry, has announced the appointments of David Friend as Chief Financial Officer and John Ross as Senior Vice President of Client Development. Both executives bring decades of experience across insurance and enterprise technology and join ZestyAI as insurers increasingly adopt the company’s AI-powered platform for underwriting, pricing, and portfolio management.

The hires come as ZestyAI turns cash flow positive, more than doubles product usage, surpasses 200 regulatory approvals, and adds 26 new carrier customers.

Friend brings more than two decades of experience scaling high-growth enterprise software companies. He most recently served as CFO of Quantum Metric for five years as it scaled through the $100M annual recurring revenue milestone. Earlier, as an investor at Bain Capital Ventures, he partnered with founders building category-defining enterprise software companies. At ZestyAI, he leads finance, accounting, and corporate development.

Ross brings nearly two decades of P&C insurance experience across carriers, insurtech, and data and analytics providers, with a track record of leading teams that drive growth through a relentless focus on customer service. He joins ZestyAI from LexisNexis Risk Solutions, where he ran the Auto and Home portfolio and led the industry’s largest commercial relationships across personal lines insurers. At ZestyAI, he leads client development, ensuring customers realize measurable value through precision underwriting, improved rate segmentation, and enhanced access to reinsurance capital.

BLUEFRIARS

Bluefriars Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Hayley Robinson as Chair, further strengthening the firm’s senior leadership as it continues to support clients across the insurance and financial services sector.

Hayley brings extensive experience from a senior executive career in global insurance, alongside her current portfolio of non-executive and advisory roles. She has held leadership positions at Zurich, RSA and Aviva, including serving as Group Chief Underwriting Officer at Zurich and Chief Underwriting Officer for Personal Lines at Aviva.

AXA XL

AXA XL has announced the appointment of Jeanmarie Giordano as Global Chief Underwriting Officer. She succeeds Libby Benet, who has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of AXA XL Risk Advisory, AXA XL’s new business unit dedicated to prevention.

In this role, Ms. Giordano will lead AXA XL’s global underwriting strategy, working closely with Business Unit CEOs and product lines to support disciplined growth, technical excellence, and portfolio resilience.

Commenting on the appointment, Scott Gunter, CEO of AXA XL, said: “Jeanmarie is a highly experienced leader in the global insurance space; she combines deep technical expertise with a strong profile and first-rate relationships across the market.

SAMP RISK

Asset Performance Partners (APP) Group has appointed Jonathon Valentine as Group Chief Technology Officer, bringing one of the motor insurance market’s most recognised connected data experts into the power and renewable energy sector. In his new role, Valentine will lead the technology strategy for APP Group and its insurtech subsidiary, SAMP Risk — the first connected insurance platform for the power and renewable energy sector.

Valentine joins from ThingCo, the telematics service provider he co-founded in 2018 and which became widely regarded as the market leader in risk mitigation for motor insurers. As CTO, he won multiple industry awards including recognition in the CIO100 and the Top 10 CIO list, and took home the AI Award in 2025.

HOWDEN

Howden, one of the UK’s largest insurance brokers, is strengthening its commercial presence in North Wales with the appointment of Andrew Kells as Commercial Account Executive.

The appointment builds on Howden’s recent investment in the region, following the appointment of commercial insurance specialist Nathan Brookfield. The expansion of Howden’s commercial expertise in North Wales reflects growing demand from local businesses for specialist insurance, risk management and advisory support, delivered by experts with strong local knowledge and sector expertise.

Andrew’s appointment will help drive business growth, strengthen client relationships and further establish the broker’s presence across North Wales and the wider Welsh market.

AUGMENT RISK

Augment Risk, the reinsurance and capital solutions broker, announces the appointment of Lee Bonnett, effective immediately. Based in London, Bonnet will report directly to Mark Aylward, partner – MGA, and will be responsible for developing the fast-growing MGA client base of Augment Risk.

Bonnett brings more than 30 years of experience to his new role at Augment Risk. For the past 10 years he has focused on structuring and placing portfolio and monoline solutions for MGAs across North America, Australia and the UK.

Before joining Augment Risk, Bonnett served as partner at Acrisure London Wholesale where he specialised in forward thinking US-based cat-focused tech MGAs. Prior to this, he held senior leadership roles at Marsh and Towergate Insurance.

Commercial property insurer FM today announced the appointment of Nicholas McClure as operations senior vice president, and chief executive for FM’s London operations covering the UK, Ireland, Nordics, Middle East, and Africa.

In his new role, McClure assumes responsibility for FM operations in London, succeeding Bill Bradshaw, who retired earlier in the year. He will report to Loïc Le Dréau, senior vice president, EMEA division manager.

“We are delighted to welcome Nick to lead our London operations,” said Le Dréau. “With his long track record of success across underwriting, client service and operations at FM, Nick brings extensive experience to serve our clients in this important region.”

LIBERTY MUTUAL

Liberty Mutual Insurance has announced that Defne Turkes has been appointed president and managing director of Liberty International Insurance (LII), the international division of Global Risk Solutions (GRS), effective July 1, 2026. She will lead strategic growth across commercial insurance internationally as well as retail markets in Asia. Turkes will directly report to GRS President Matthew Moore.

“Defne brings a formidable combination of skills and deep international insurance expertise,” said Moore. “She is an exceptional leader, with proven experience delivering operational platforms across complex, multi-jurisdictional environments, alongside commercial experience running a multi-country business.”

Since 2024, Turkes has served as LII chief operating officer. She joined Liberty in 2006 as chief financial officer in Turkey and held various senior leadership positions in Asia, culminating as president of Liberty’s Asia retail businesses.

PRICE FORBES

Price Forbes announces it is building its facultative capability for the Middle East & Africa (MEA) region with two senior appointments, effective immediately.

Tarek Semaan joins as head of facultative, Middle East & Africa, and Anthony Abi Fadel as director, facultative. Both will be based in Dubai, with their appointments part of the ongoing expansion of Price Forbes’ facultative capabilities globally.

Reporting to David Howells, senior executive officer, Price Forbes Dubai, Semaan will be responsible for leading the growth and development of Price Forbes’ facultative business across the MEA. He joins from Gallagher Re, where he served most recently as executive director, leading facultative reinsurance development across the region and delivering tailored solutions for complex risks.

Fadel, who will report to Semaan, also joins from Gallagher Re, where he was associate director, with a strong regional track record as a producer and placement broker.

John Thompson, CEO, Price Forbes Broking said: “Dubai is an important hub for Price Forbes in serving the MEA region, which continues to see surging demand for insurance solutions and risk transfer expertise. Both Tarek and Anthony bring strong complementary technical skills and regional knowledge essential to meeting that demand and I am delighted to welcome them to the team.”

HDI GLOBAL

Corporate & Specialty insurer HDI Global (HDI) has announced the appointment of Jill Salmon as Head of Cyber Underwriting at HDI Global US.

In her new role, Salmon will play a key part in advancing HDI’s underwriting platform, enhancing the value delivered to clients and broker partners through high-quality, technically driven, and reliable insurance solutions.

Salmon brings significant experience in cyber underwriting and a strong track record of building high-performing teams, developing innovative solutions, and driving sustainable, profitable growth in the US market.

SWISS RE

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions has announced that Richard Alexander will join the business as Head of East Property, where he will be focused on coordinating the market presence and underwriting delivery of the East region. He will also be part of the US Property Management team, helping to implement the business’s broader strategy. He brings more than 35 years of property insurance and reinsurance experience to the role.

Alexander joins from Zurich North America, where he served as New York Manager for Large Property since 2018, leading underwriting teams focused on large and complex property risks. Earlier in his career, Richard spent more than 20 years with AIG, including serving as East Region Manager for Large Property within AIG World Source. He began his insurance career as a reinsurance broker at Lloyd’s of London.