Liberty Specialty Markets (LSM), part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, has appointed Henry Nelson as active underwriter, expanding his current responsibilities as chief underwriting officer (CUO) for the UK and Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The appointment is subject to regulatory approval.
Based in London, Nelson will continue to report to Luis Prato, president of UK and MENA. In his expanded role, he will oversee the underwriting portfolio of Lloyd’s Syndicate 4472 while maintaining his position as CUO, a role he assumed in January this year.
Nelson brings over a decade of experience with LSM, having joined the company in 2013. Over the years, he has held a range of underwriting and leadership positions, including chief of staff, head of portfolio management for London and Global Products, marine portfolio manager, and underwriter in the terrorism and war division. Before joining LSM, he spent two years at Aon Crisis Management as a broker, specialising in North American property and terrorism risks.
The promotion underscores LSM’s commitment to developing talent from within. Nelson succeeds Jane Warren, who will retire at the end of 2025 after a distinguished six-year tenure. Prato praised Warren’s contributions, noting her significant influence in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and her active role in cultural development through her service on the Lloyd’s Council.
Nelson’s appointment comes as LSM implements strategic changes across its UK and MENA operations. In September, the company established an integrated third-party division, combining its financial and professional (FinPro) and casualty portfolios to better align underwriting functions with evolving market dynamics and client needs.
The leadership transition also coincides with differing regional growth trajectories. The MENA insurance market is projected to expand by around 6% in 2024, compared with a modest 1–2% growth forecast for the UK market.
