Several insurers and specialist firms have announced senior executive appointments and promotions across the UK, underscoring continued organisational change and leadership investment across the sector.
Verisk expands UK & Ireland leadership remit
Verisk has broadened the responsibilities of Tim Rayner to include leadership of its underwriting and claims operations across the UK and Ireland, alongside oversight of its global life, health and travel division.
Rayner, who has more than 25 years’ industry experience, will continue to lead the company’s Specialty Business Solutions unit. He joined Verisk in 2018 as business development director and has since progressed through a series of senior leadership roles, most recently serving as CEO of Specialty Business Solutions.
Allianz Personal Broker creates new commercial director role
Allianz UK has appointed Hailey Franklin as commercial director for Allianz Personal Broker, a newly created position within the business.
Reporting to the managing director, Franklin will lead initiatives focused on enhancing trading performance and strengthening business capabilities. She brings 13 years of experience at Allianz and across the wider insurance industry, having held senior roles spanning pricing, underwriting and distribution.
The appointment follows other recent leadership changes at Allianz Personal Broker, including the hiring of Glyn Hughes as managing director in September and Vicky Yuill as distribution director in December 2025. Hughes is scheduled to take up his role in February 2026.
Allianz Trade names new head of surety & guarantee
Allianz Trade has appointed David Barber as head of surety & guarantee for the UK and Ireland, succeeding David Weale, who is departing the business.
Barber has nearly 25 years’ experience in corporate credit, including 14 years with Allianz Trade. He joined the firm as an underwriter specialising in construction and timber sector risks and later held senior roles such as regional underwriting manager for Northern Europe and risk director for the UK and Ireland surety team. In his new role, Barber will also join the UK and Ireland executive board of management.
Arch Insurance International promotes PI underwriting manager
Arch Insurance International has promoted Simone Lewis to London Market professional indemnity underwriting manager.
In her new role, Lewis will oversee all underwriting activity for the London Market PI portfolio, covering both UK and international risks across traditional and non-traditional professions. She brings more than 13 years of PI underwriting experience, having joined Arch in 2023 following previous roles at AXA XL and XL Catlin.
Newline Group strengthens liability leadership
Newline Group has announced the appointment of James May as head of general liability and Ben Ward as head of life sciences & clinical trials, with both roles effective from January 1, 2026. They will report to Martin Hawkins, head of liability.
May joined Newline in 2007 and was promoted to senior underwriter in 2015. Ward has been with the firm since 2019 and became a senior underwriter in 2025. Newline highlighted Ward’s contribution to expanding the clinical trials portfolio and launching the company’s first digital health policy.
rrelentless appoints lead cyber underwriter
Separately, rrelentless has appointed Duane Folkard as lead cyber underwriter.
Folkard brings more than 20 years of industry experience across broker and underwriting leadership, portfolio development and complex risk placement. He will lead the growth of the firm’s cyber underwriting capability as rrelentless continues to expand its product pipeline.
