Four insurance companies have announced senior leadership appointments across Switzerland and Europe, covering broking, underwriting, distribution, and operational leadership. Notably, three of the four appointments involve newly created executive roles, highlighting a broader trend of expanding leadership teams to support future growth rather than simply replacing departing executives.
Gallagher expands Swiss leadership team
Gallagher has strengthened its operations in Switzerland with two senior appointments designed to support business expansion.
Gosia Kuczewska has joined the company as head of distribution and client management. She brings more than 17 years of experience in broking, underwriting, and client management across accident and health, property, marine, and professional indemnity insurance. In her new role, she will oversee distribution strategy and client engagement initiatives across Switzerland while focusing on new business development.
At the same time, Gallagher has established the new position of chief broking officer for Switzerland. Samuel Trost, who previously led client management and business development, has been promoted into the role. Having joined Gallagher in 2021 after beginning his insurance career with Allianz in 2010 and moving into broking in 2014, Trost will now oversee the delivery of insurance and risk management solutions to clients.
Both executives will report to Switzerland CEO Christian Peters. Gallagher has operated in Switzerland since 2019, offering financial lines, construction, property insurance, and its specialist art insurance practice, Gallagher accurART.
Specialist Risk Group creates new underwriting leadership role
Specialist Risk Group has appointed Neil Ross as chief underwriting officer of MX, a newly created role that reflects the continued growth of the managing general agent’s underwriting operations.
Ross will join the business later this year after completing his current contractual commitments. He brings more than 20 years of underwriting and portfolio management experience gained at Miller, AXIS, and CNA Hardy.
As chief underwriting officer, Ross will oversee underwriting strategy, portfolio performance, insurer relationships, and the ongoing development of MX’s specialist underwriting offering. The creation of the role demonstrates the increasing scale and complexity of the business, requiring dedicated executive oversight of underwriting activities.
QBE promotes Queralt Vila to lead European distribution
QBE has promoted Queralt Vila to head of distribution for Europe, effective August 1. She succeeds Maths Stanser, who is retiring later this summer.
Based in Barcelona, Vila has spent nearly four years with QBE Europe, most recently helping shape the company’s European growth strategy. Her promotion provides leadership continuity while supporting the insurer’s long-term expansion plans.
Reporting to chief customer officer Andrew Besant, Vila will serve on both the Market Management Executive and the European Management Committee.
She will lead broker and client engagement across Europe, focusing on the corporate and mid-market sectors spanning property, casualty, financial lines, cyber, marine, and sustainable energy insurance. With almost two decades of international experience across Switzerland, the UK, and Spain, Vila has held underwriting, broker relationship management, and strategic roles at Zurich, EY, and Aspen.
The Broker Investment Group restructures executive leadership
The Broker Investment Group (TBIG) has introduced a new leadership structure by appointing three senior executives while confirming the departures of two divisional CEOs.
James Watkin, CEO of the MGA division, and Andy Roden, CEO of the retail division, are leaving the business. The company thanked both leaders for their contributions as it transitions to a new operating model.
Stuart Grieb will join the group on July 13 as group chief operating officer. He will oversee both the retail and MGA businesses, focusing on operational excellence and stronger collaboration across the organisation. Grieb brings leadership experience from Marsh, Towergate, Brightside, WTW, and Brown & Brown.
Nick Hopkin has expanded his responsibilities as strategic development director. In addition to leading placement across the group, he will oversee MGA market relationships and insurer partnerships, bringing together responsibilities that were previously spread across separate divisional teams.
Rosie Guru will join on July 20 as group integration director, contributing her experience in business transformation and integration gained at RSA, NFP, and insurance consultancy roles.
The restructuring replaces two separate divisional CEO positions with a centralised leadership model built around a group chief operating officer, supported by dedicated placement and integration leaders. The new structure is intended to strengthen strategic coordination while maintaining specialist expertise across the business.
