Several insurance businesses have announced senior appointments and underwriting team developments this week, with Antares promoting Amelia Hinds to class underwriter for specie, HIVE Underwriters appointing Richard Brown to lead its new property D&F business, Santam Syndicate 1918 naming Hina Shavdia as chief operating officer, and HDI Global Belgium launching a dedicated aviation underwriting team.
Antares promotes Amelia Hinds to class underwriter, specie
Antares Global has promoted Amelia Hinds to class underwriter, specie. Based in London, Hinds will report to James Glynn, head of marine, who will continue to support the specie portfolio.
Hinds brings more than 13 years of insurance experience to the role, with most of her career focused on fine art and specie underwriting. She joined Antares in 2021 after previously holding roles at Chubb and Canopius.
The promotion follows Mat Storr’s move to head of reinsurance in August and comes as part of a series of internal promotions at Antares this year. For brokers operating in the fine art and specie markets, the appointment maintains the class under the leadership of an underwriter with established market experience.
HIVE appoints Richard Brown to lead property D&F launch
HIVE Underwriters has appointed Richard Brown as head of property, where he will lead the launch of its global property direct and facultative business.
Brown joins HIVE from Sompo, where he served as head of UK and international property. He has also held senior positions at Generali and Liberty Specialty Markets and brings more than 30 years of UK and international property experience.
The new property class adds to HIVE’s expansion during 2026. In May, the specialty MGA launched an aviation reinsurance division led by Scott Bradbury and Joshua Down, following earlier expansion into marine and political violence.
HIVE was founded in November 2017 by Bruce Carman after a 30-year Lloyd’s underwriting career. The business describes its approach as knowledge-led underwriting, combining third-party threat intelligence with exposure modelling.
For property brokers, the launch introduces an additional source of D&F capacity led by an underwriter with extensive experience across both the Lloyd’s and company markets.
Santam Syndicate 1918 appoints Hina Shavdia as COO
Santam Syndicate 1918 has appointed Hina Shavdia as chief operating officer. Based in London, she will report to chief executive Sam Geddes.
Shavdia has more than 20 years of experience in insurance and reinsurance transformation. She joins Santam from Volante Global, where she served as group COO, and previously spent four years at AXIS Capital as global head of business change.
Her appointment forms part of the syndicate’s ongoing leadership build-out following Geddes’ arrival from MS Amlin in June 2026. Geddes succeeded interim chief executive Rob Vetch, who subsequently moved into the CFO role.
The syndicate has also appointed Nigel Tatlock as head of property, Gavin Coley as head of claims and Atang Matebesi as chief commercial officer. During the year, it has also expanded into international motor and property lines.
HDI Global Belgium launches dedicated aviation team
HDI Global Belgium has launched a dedicated aviation underwriting team serving the Benelux and Southern European markets. The Brussels-based team is led by Stijn Keppens and operates within HDI’s Aviation Centre of Excellence.
The team will focus on a broad range of aviation risks, including private and business aviation, flying clubs, flight schools, helicopter operations, unmanned aerial vehicles, maintenance and repair providers, airfields and hangar-keepers.
Its scope will also include emerging exposures associated with fleet modernisation, electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, and alternative propulsion technologies.
For brokers placing general aviation risks across the Benelux and Southern Europe, the new team provides locally based specialist underwriting capacity.
