A wave of senior leadership appointments has been announced across the insurance and legal sectors, with Arch Insurance International, AXA XL, Clyde & Co, Consilium, and Kennedys all making strategic moves to bolster capabilities across underwriting, broking, and financial management.
Arch Insurance International Elevates Chris Fairs to Head of Agency Management
Arch Insurance International has promoted Chris Fairs to the role of Head of Agency Management at Arch Managing Agency Limited (AMAL), effective immediately. Based in London, Fairs will report to Chief Risk Officer Tom Rivers.
In his new position, Fairs will oversee Arch’s Lloyd’s operations, including Syndicates 2012 and 1955. He will lead the syndicate business plan approval processes and manage Lloyd’s regulatory submissions.
Fairs joined Arch in 2022 as Agency Manager. His previous experience includes serving as Group Company Secretary at Argenta Private Capital and holding regulatory and technical roles at Lloyd’s, giving him deep expertise in Lloyd’s compliance and governance.
This appointment follows the recent hiring of Ondine Bourrut Lacouture as Active Underwriter of Arch Syndicate 1955 at Lloyd’s.
Shaun Wilkinson Takes Helm of Casualty at AXA XL
AXA XL has named Shaun Wilkinson as Head of International Casualty, Retail, UK & Lloyd’s. In this newly established role, Wilkinson will lead the underwriting strategy for the firm’s international casualty retail portfolio, as well as head the casualty unit within the risk-managed segment.
He will report to Ben Kinsella, Head of Risk Managed, Retail, UK & Lloyd’s. Wilkinson brings 20 years of industry experience, evenly split between broking and underwriting roles.
Clyde & Co Appoints Ian Roberts as UK Insurance Chair
Global law firm Clyde & Co has appointed Ian Roberts as Chair of its UK Insurance Practice, a newly created leadership role designed to align with the firm’s sector growth strategy and evolving client demands.
Roberts, who joined the firm in 2013, has spent the past decade in Singapore leading the Southeast Asia insurance practice. He has advised on a broad range of matters, including financial lines, general liability, reinsurance disputes, and political and credit risk claims.
He will head a new UK Insurance Leadership Group, working alongside partners Angela Flaherty, James Roberts, Louisa Robbins, and Paula Jefferson.
Consilium Launches UK Casualty Binder, Appoints Luke Browne
Specialist broker Consilium has unveiled its first UK casualty binder through its Consilium Risk Solutions division. To lead the initiative, the firm has appointed Luke Browne as Senior Underwriter.
Browne, who joins from DUAL Group, brings over a decade of experience in liability and Contractors All Risks (CAR) underwriting. The new facility, backed by A-rated delegated authority capacity, targets low to medium-risk contractors. It features updated policy wordings and expanded cover extensions, including efficacy, goods on hook, rip and tear, and defective workmanship.
Consilium plans to expand the offering with additional lines such as CAR, plant, and property casualty later this year. Earlier this week, the firm also named Adrian Cousins as Head of London Market Claims.
Kennedys Names Laura Koller as Chief Financial Officer
International law firm Kennedys has appointed Laura Koller as Chief Financial Officer. Based in New Jersey, Koller will spearhead global financial strategy and support the firm’s business planning in collaboration with executive and leadership teams.
Koller has been with the firm for six years, most recently serving as Finance Director for its 12 U.S. offices. She brings over two decades of experience in the securities industry and holds additional qualifications in counselling psychology.
Her appointment comes as Kennedys reported a 13% increase in global revenue for FY 2024/25, reaching £428 million. The firm has set an ambitious target of US$1 billion in global turnover by 2030, with continued investment focused on people, processes, and infrastructure.
