Liberty Specialty Markets, Arch Insurance, Direct Commercial Limited and QBE have announced a series of senior underwriting appointments as they look to expand portfolios and deepen broker engagement across key European and UK market segments.
Liberty Specialty Markets appoints head of portfolio solutions, Europe
Liberty Specialty Markets (LSM), part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, has appointed Rob Groenen as head of portfolio solutions, Europe, with immediate effect.
Based in the Netherlands, Groenen continues to report to Pierre-Edouard Fraigneau, president and chief underwriting officer for Europe, and retains his responsibilities as general manager for the Benelux and Nordics.
The newly created role brings together affinity and programme business alongside digital operations under a single operating model, aimed at providing brokers and clients with centralised access to Liberty’s product and underwriting capabilities.
Groenen will lead LSM’s delegated and digital business strategy across Europe, overseeing end-to-end performance and relationship management in the carrier’s regional markets. The portfolio solutions structure forms part of Liberty’s Invest in Europe 2030 strategy and is designed to deliver a more integrated offering for brokers and clients.
Groenen joined Liberty in 2007 as country manager for the Netherlands and has since played a key role in expanding the company’s portfolio and regional footprint across the Benelux and Nordics. His remit has included developing multi-class offerings and building regional platforms.
Last month, LSM also appointed Oliver Delvos as head of cyber and technology errors and omissions for Europe, as former role-holder Jelmer Andela transitioned to global commercial director for cyber at Liberty Mutual.
Arch expands executive assurance leadership in Europe
Arch Insurance has strengthened its European management liability platform with the appointment of Ernesto Medina Gomez as head of executive assurance for Europe at Arch Insurance (EU) dac, effective immediately.
Based in Madrid, Medina Gomez will oversee underwriting strategy, product development and distribution of executive assurance solutions across continental Europe. The newly created role includes a particular focus on the Iberian market, while he will work closely with Julien Martins, head of executive assurance for France, on business across France and the Benelux.
Medina Gomez joins from Arch Insurance International in London, where he served as a senior executive assurance underwriter. He has also held senior underwriting roles at Probitas, Zurich and The Hartford, primarily within directors’ and officers’ and financial institutions lines for large European accounts.
The appointment follows recent regional expansion at Arch, including three senior underwriting appointments within its UK motor fleet and motor trade teams.
Direct Commercial Limited names London Market new business underwriter
UK motor insurer Direct Commercial Limited (DCL) has appointed Steve Knights as London Market new business underwriter, effective December 9.
Knights will be based at the firm’s Lime Street office and joins the New Business team. He arrives from Aioi Nissay Dowa Europe, bringing experience across underwriting and broker engagement in the London and wholesale markets.
In his new role, Knights will focus on underwriting new wholesale and London market risks, working closely with brokers on pricing, terms and placements aligned to DCL’s risk appetite.
QBE hires portfolio manager for UK casualty
QBE has appointed Sharon Smallridge as portfolio manager for its UK casualty team, further strengthening its senior leadership in the London market.
Based in London, Smallridge will lead QBE’s major client portfolio for UK casualty with immediate effect.
She joins from AIG, where she spent 12 years in senior roles, most recently as general liability manager. Smallridge brings more than 35 years of insurance experience across both claims and underwriting.
Her appointment marks QBE’s second senior hire for the UK casualty team in 2025. In June, the insurer announced the appointment of Adrian Browne as director of underwriting for UK casualty, Anna Bennett following her planned retirement at the end of 2025.
