People Moves: Industry Appointment Round-Up
People Moves: Industry Appointment Round-Up
The insurance industry is in constant motion, and this week has seen a flurry of significant talent shifts. From top-level executive appointments at established giants like Lloyd's to the recruitment of specialised data scientists and cybersecurity leaders, the industry is making bold moves in its talent strategy.

Insurtech Insights takes a closer look at these key appointments and what they signal about the evolving landscape of insurance.

Company: Lloyd’s

Move: Lloyd’s Appoints Alexandra Cliff as Chief Financial Officer

Lloyd’s, the world’s leading marketplace for insurance and reinsurance, has announced the appointment of Alexandra Cliff as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective May 1, 2025.  

Cliff joined Lloyd’s as Deputy CFO in November 2022 and currently serves on the Executive Committee. She brings over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, having held senior finance roles at companies including Direct Line Group, StarStone, and AJ Gallagher. A Chartered Accountant, Ms. Cliff also spent eight years at PwC in both London and the US.  

Cliff succeeds Burkhard Keese, who will be leaving Lloyd’s to pursue investment opportunities in the German insurance market. Keese will remain a strategic advisor to Lloyd’s, focusing on the development of the London Bridge 2 risk transfer vehicle.  

Company: Howden

Move: Steve Hutchinson joins Howden Hong Kong as Chief Broking Officer

Howden, the global insurance and reinsurance broking group, has appointed Steve Hutchinson as Chief Broking Officer for Howden Hong Kong, effective immediately. He will report to Alfred Sham, CEO of Howden Hong Kong.

In this new role, Hutchinson will be instrumental in guiding the strategic direction of Howden Hong Kong, aligning with the group’s broader goals of expanding its specialty offerings and driving sustained growth. His focus will be on enhancing the firm’s expertise in key sectors such as construction, multinational clients, and large, complex accounts, while also prioritizing the development of innovative placement strategies.

Before joining Howden, Hutchinson served as Senior Vice President and Risk Management Practice team leader at Marsh Asia in Hong Kong, where he provided risk and insurance advisory services to multinational companies based in Hong Kong.

Company: NFP

Move: NFP appoints Lauren Kim as Regional MD, Northeast P&C

NFP, a subsidiary of Aon and a global leader in insurance brokerage and consultancy, has appointed Lauren Kim as Regional Managing Director to lead its Property & Casualty (P&C) business in the Northeast region.

Kim will report directly to Kate Henry, President of NFP’s Northeast region, and will work closely with regional colleagues and industry leaders to drive growth in the commercial P&C sector.

Kim joined NFP in 2020 as Senior Vice President and Legal and Technical Leader for the Financial Institutions Group, later becoming Managing Director and Head of the Financial Institutions Group in 2022. Prior to NFP, she held the role of AVP, Claims Practice Leader – Financial Institutions at QBE North America and also served as an Attorney at Wilson Elser.

Company: Lockton

Move: Lockton hires Ritu Sakuja as SVP, Product Management

Lockton, the global insurance brokerage firm, has appointed Ritu Sakuja as Senior Vice President of Product Management.

With over 20 years of experience in product strategy and management, Sakuja will lead the charge in accelerating the delivery of innovative digital products for Lockton’s People Solutions business.

Her extensive background in technical product innovation and digital consulting across technology, human resources, and healthcare will be a significant asset to the firm. Prior to joining Lockton, Ritu was a Product Leader at Amazon for over three years and spent more than 15 years at Marsh McLennan subsidiary Mercer, where she held various roles since 2006.

Company: ARCH

Move: Arch Insurance Intl. names Mike Bottle as MD of UK Regional Division

Arch Insurance International has announced the promotion of Mike Bottle to Managing Director of its UK Regional Division, effective immediately.

In his new role, Bottle will oversee Arch’s network of UK regional offices while continuing to lead the division’s strategy and distribution efforts. He will collaborate closely with Stuart Danskin, Director of Underwriting, and Vicky Rowlay, National Director of Business Transformation, to drive the division’s growth. Bottle will report to Kirsten Valder, Deputy CEO of Arch Insurance International.

Bottle joined Arch in 2019 as Senior Vice President, Strategy and Distribution for the UK Regional Division, and has extensive leadership experience, having previously served as Managing Director of Axiom Underwriting Agency Limited.

Company: MS Amlin

Move: Sam Geddes Appointed to Lead New MS Amlin Partnerships Team

Lloyd’s global re/insurer MS Amlin has announced the creation of a new Partnerships team, aimed at refining its distribution strategy and exploring growth opportunities across both established and emerging markets.

The Partnerships team, which will complement the company’s existing Insurance and Reinsurance divisions, will operate under the CUO office and be separately resourced to drive product and distribution innovation. It will also focus on responding to emerging distribution trends.

The team will be led by Sam Geddes, Deputy Chief Underwriting Officer, with underwriting responsibilities overseen by Simon Morgan, Head of Property and Allied Lines.

Company: Envelop Risk

Move: Graeme Bell Appointed Group Chief Operating Officer and Simon Welton Appointed EVP

Envelop Risk, a leader in data-driven cyber reinsurance and analytics, has announced two key promotions within its leadership team. Graeme Bell has been promoted to Group Chief Operating Officer, while Simon Welton takes on the role of EVP – Underwriting Performance and Strategic Partnerships.

Bell, who joined Envelop in 2020 as a non-executive director, was appointed Chief Legal Officer in 2021 following the company’s $130 million Series B fundraise from SoftBank. Since 2023, he has served as interim COO and is also a director of Envelop’s US broker, DataStream Cyber Insurance, and its Bermuda Class 3A reinsurer, Augmented Re. In his new role, Bell will continue overseeing operations, working closely with the executive team to enhance efficiency and support Envelop’s growth.

Welton’s new role will see him focus on underwriting performance and expanding the company’s strategic partnerships.

Company: Brokerslink

Move: Brokerslink Appoints Youness Rhallam as President and Patrick Verlinden as Vice-President to its Advisory Board

Global broking firm Brokerslink has announced the appointment of Youness Rhallam as President and Patrick Verlinden as Vice-President of its Advisory Board.

Rhallam, CEO of Moroccan brokerage firm Alpha Assurances, and Verlinden, CEO of Belgian broker Van Dessel Insurance Brokers, bring a wealth of leadership experience to their new roles. The appointments were unanimously confirmed by the Advisory Board, marking a significant step in strengthening Brokerslink’s strategic oversight and collaboration.

José Manuel Fonseca, President and CEO of Brokerslink, clarified that the Board of Directors handles operational and executive decisions, playing a key role in shaping the company’s strategy during the election of these new positions.

Company: Oceanview

Move: Oceanview Re names Muhamed Majeed as chief actuary

Oceanview Reinsurance Ltd, part of Oceanview Holdings Ltd, has named Muhamed Majeed as its new Chief Actuary, effective January 20.

In his new role, Majeed will lead the company’s actuarial functions, focusing on product development, pricing strategies, and risk management. With over 15 years of experience in the insurance and reinsurance industries, he brings deep expertise in actuarial science, financial modeling, and product development.

Before joining Oceanview, Majeed served as Assistant Vice President of Product and Pricing at Securian Canada, where he led a team of actuaries to develop and price new insurance products while managing a diverse portfolio.

Company: Miller

Move: Miller Appoints Edwin Staudenmaier as Head of Information Security

Specialist re/insurance broker Miller has appointed Edwin Staudenmaier as its new Head of Information Security, effective immediately.

Staudenmaier will oversee Miller’s information security strategy and operations, ensuring robust risk management and compliance. With over 10 years of experience in cybersecurity, Staudenmaier brings a wealth of expertise from his work with Deloitte and Crossword Cybersecurity Consulting. His background includes defining cybersecurity strategies, developing operating models, and implementing risk management solutions tailored to meet the needs of various organizations.

Company: Inzone

Move: Inszone Insurance Services Creates Three Regional President Roles to Drive Strategic Growth

Inszone Insurance Services, a rapidly growing national provider of commercial, personal, and benefits insurance, is pleased to announce the creation of three new Regional President roles. This expansion in leadership is designed to accelerate the company’s growth strategy across multiple territories and further strengthen Inszone’s organisational structure. Each Regional President will report directly to Chief Revenue Officer Pat Grignon.

Chris Tracy has been appointed as Regional President of California, overseeing Inszone’s largest revenue-generating territory. Chris joined Inszone in 2018 as a producer and quickly rose through the ranks, showcasing exceptional leadership, dedication to client success, and a talent for driving revenue growth.

Sara Evans has been named Regional President for the Mountain West region, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada and Arizona. Sara joined Inszone in 2019 through the acquisition of her mother’s insurance agency in Arizona, bringing deep community ties and a legacy of expertise to the company. Since then, she has led one of Inszone’s fastest-growing territories, driving successful integrations and spearheading expansion efforts across multiple states.

Francisco Saldaña, a recent addition to Inszone, will serve as Regional President for the Midwest. His region covers Texas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Francisco brings extensive insurance operations experience and a fresh perspective from his previous leadership roles in the industry.

Company: AXA XL

Move: AXA XL Appoints Tim Whisler as Head of Wholesale Solutions in the Americas

AXA XL has appointed Tim Whisler as the new Head of Wholesale Solutions in the Americas, a role in which he will oversee the company’s strategy for the Programs and Excess & Surplus (E&S) segments. Reporting to Lucy Pilko, CEO of AXA XL Americas, Whisler will also lead the Wholesale Underwriting unit.

Whisler brings more than 20 years of experience in the Wholesale insurance space, having spent a significant portion of his career at Lexington Insurance Company. Most recently, he served as the Head of their subsidiary, Western World Insurance Company.

In his new position, Whisler is tasked with driving profitable growth within the Programs and E&S segments by building key market assets, accelerating organic growth, and implementing long-term underwriting strategies.

Company: Berkshire Hathaway

Move: Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Appoints Francesco Longobardo as Head of Casualty

Longobardo brings over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, most recently holding senior liability underwriting positions at a global insurer for 17 years. He also has prior experience on the brokerage side of the business.

In his new role, he will oversee the underwriting of primary and excess casualty insurance across various industry sectors and will be based in Milan.

“We are excited to continue our expansion, with Francesco leading our entrance into the casualty market in Italy,” said Leonardo Castrichino, Country Manager, Italy, BHSI.

Company: Plymouth Rock

Move: Plymouth Rock Appoints Ethan Tarby as President and CEO

Plymouth Rock has officially named Ethan Tarby as President and Chief Executive Officer of Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation, following his tenure as interim President and CEO since June 2024.

In his new role, Tarby will lead the Plymouth Rock Independent Agency Group, which oversees more than $1.3 billion in premiums across personal and commercial auto, motorcycle, and umbrella liability insurance. Tarby will report to Andrew McElwee, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Plymouth Rock Company.

Tarby joined Plymouth Rock in 2021 as Chief Marketing Officer for the Independent Agency Group, where he was responsible for marketing and distribution across the company’s six-state operational footprint. Over the past three years, he has taken on increasing responsibilities within the organization, cementing his leadership role.

Company: Cowbell

Move: Cowbell Appoints James Porter as Lead Underwriter

Cowbell, a leading provider of cyber insurance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), is pleased to announce the appointment of James Porter as Lead Underwriter for the UK’s middle market segment. In his new role, Porter will lead a team to deliver tailored cyber insurance solutions that address the unique needs of UK businesses.

“We are thrilled to welcome James to the team. His industry reputation and experience in cyber and technology insurance will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our middle market offering,” said Simon Hughes, SVP, Global Distribution, at Cowbell. “James’s expertise will help as we continue building a team with deep market knowledge, ensuring that Cowbell remains a trusted partner to businesses navigating complex cyber risks.”

Most recently, Porter spent three years at CNA Hardy, where he underwrote technology and cyber portfolios across multiple geographies. He started his career at Clegg Gifford & Co. as an underwriting assistant.

Company: Atec

Move: Atec Appoints Principal Data Scientist

Atec, the fast-growing niche lines insurance group, has appointed Luke Dexter to the newly created role of Principle Data Scientist.  Luke will lead the advancement of Atec’s data science capabilities, building on the group’s (Ceta, Arkel Underwriting, and stable of established consumer brands) reputation for delivering customer and data centric approaches to omni-channel niche and non-standard insurance distribution.

Luke Joins Atec from Covea where he spent 3+ years in senior data science and pricing development roles.  Prior to that he was lead data scientist at Aviva.  He is skilled at developing teams, tools, and culture to drive the biggest value from data.  Atec has vast experience of drawing insights from data, by appointing a Data Scientist, a move unusual for a business of Atec’s size, it is demonstrating its bold ambitions to take this strategy a step further and place the Group at the cutting edge of value-led data-driven insurance solutions. 

Company: Policy Expert

Move: Policy Expert Appoints Mark Wilson as Chair to Steer Next Stage of Growth

Policy Expert has announced the appointment of Mark Wilson as its new Chair, as it looks to accelerate growth and build on its position as one of the UK’s fastest-growing insurance brands. The appointment will take effect from February 2025.

Mark brings 25 years of experience in the global insurance industry. He previously ran Asian insurance giant AIA before serving as CEO of Aviva from 2013 to 2018. Mark also holds the position of Non-Executive Director at Blackrock. The appointment follows a significant year of growth for Policy Expert, which recently surpassed 1.5 million policyholders across its combined home, motor, and newly launched pet insurance proposition.

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