This week’s industry developments include new leadership appointments in transactional risk broking, political violence underwriting, property direct and facultative insurance, and commercial underwriting. The updates also highlight business development expansion in insurance telematics and a broker joining an established network.
HDI Global appoints head of political violence and terrorism
HDI Global UK and Ireland has appointed Ashwin Kapoor as head of political violence and terrorism and Tom Brown (pictured, left) as underwriting manager, with both appointments effective from December 1.
Both executives join from Aviva, where Kapoor previously led the political violence and terrorism business and Brown served as an underwriting manager. Kapoor also brings previous experience from Chubb and Marsh, while Brown has worked at Chubb and Allianz.
The appointments will strengthen HDI’s crisis management division, which also includes product recall and kidnap and ransom coverage.
Demand for political violence insurance is increasing amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. Crux also appointed a chief executive for political violence and terrorism last month. Additional underwriting capacity and experienced professionals could provide brokers with more options when arranging coverage for these increasingly relevant risks.
HIVE Underwriters appoints property direct and facultative class underwriter
Specialty managing general agent (MGA) HIVE Underwriters has appointed Ed Wiley (pictured, centre) as class underwriter for property direct and facultative (D&F) business.
Wiley joins from Sompo, where he served as head of international property, and brings more than 20 years of industry experience. In his new role, he will work alongside Richard Brown, who was recently appointed to develop HIVE’s global property D&F business.
The expansion introduces additional property D&F capacity to the market while increasing competition in a softening property insurance environment. New market entrants may face pressure to compete on terms and pricing as they establish their portfolios.
Folgate Underwriting appoints new chief underwriting officer
Folgate Underwriting Agency (FUAL) has appointed Simon Bell as chief underwriting officer for commercial and mid-market business, completing its underwriting leadership structure across four business pillars.
Bell joins after spending more than 15 years at Touchstone Underwriting. Most recently, he served as lead underwriter for property and commercial business, where he led a team of approximately 12 professionals.
The appointment completes Folgate’s underwriting leadership team and is expected to provide regional brokers with greater clarity around underwriting appetite and decision-making for commercial and mid-market risks.
Gallagher appoints head of warranty and indemnity for UK and Ireland
Gallagher has appointed Alex Peake as head of warranty and indemnity (W&I) for the UK and Ireland within its private equity and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) practice.
Peake joins from WTW, where he worked as a director in the M&A transactional risks team. He brings 10 years of experience in transactional risk insurance.
Gallagher has also appointed Sean Grogan as a director, bringing experience from transaction services roles at PwC and Deloitte. Additionally, Emily Sawyer and Max Marshall have moved into the practice from other positions within the business.
These appointments follow further expansion across Germany, Italy, the Nordic countries and France earlier this year.
Competition in the transactional risk market continues to develop, with new capacity entering the sector, including Optio’s recently launched Amsterdam-based W&I MGA. Gallagher’s wider European expansion gives deal teams access to another broker with local market expertise.
Targa Telematics appoints head of insurance business development
Italian telematics company Targa Telematics has appointed Marco Amendolagine (pictured immediately above) as head of business development for insurance. His responsibilities will include expanding the company’s insurance partnerships in Italy and international markets.
Amendolagine brings 18 years of experience across insurtech, telematics and digital innovation.
Targa Telematics operates a platform that collects and combines vehicle data, including location, driving behaviour, mileage and incident detection, making this information available to insurers covering commercial motor and fleet businesses.
For brokers, the growing use of telematics data has implications for commercial motor insurance. As insurers increasingly incorporate connected vehicle information into pricing and underwriting decisions, businesses that can demonstrate safer driving practices through vehicle data may be better positioned during policy renewals.
Brokers managing commercial motor portfolios should understand which insurer partners actively use telematics information and whether their clients’ fleets generate data that can help demonstrate a stronger risk profile.
AF Insurance joins Coversure Network
London-based personal and commercial lines broker AF Insurance has joined the Coversure Network, which is part of the Jensten Group.
Established in 2021, AF Insurance provides insurance services to private individuals, high-net-worth clients and businesses across the UK.
The brokerage is led by 28-year-old director James Walsh, alongside private client manager Ollie Thornton and junior account handler Sam Walsh. Its areas of specialisation include high-net-worth property, prestige vehicles, jewellery and fine art, commercial and investment property portfolios, and specialist protection for professional sportspeople.
Joining an established broker network can provide smaller businesses with access to insurer agencies, compliance support and technology while allowing them to retain their own identity.
The development highlights the appeal of network membership for younger brokers looking to grow their businesses. It also provides another route for independent broker development alongside the start-up guidance recently introduced by BIBA and Intact.
