Seven senior appointments have been announced across the insurance sector this week, covering broker leadership, specialty underwriting, Lloyd’s capacity, finance, claims, reporting and crisis management.
The appointments span Miller, Hampden Risk Partners, Brecon Specialty, Willis Networks, Pinion Insurance, QuestGates and Clearwater Underwriting, reflecting continued investment in specialist capabilities as the insurance market evolves.
Miller strengthens Bermuda property capabilities with Harry Vickers appointment
Miller has appointed Harry Vickers as senior director, property, for Miller Bermuda. Vickers joins the business from Gallagher and will be responsible for leading Miller’s direct and facultative property offering in Bermuda.
In his new role, Vickers will work closely with Miller’s London teams to expand property solutions for international clients. The Bermuda platform is also expected to add further insurance lines through 2026 and beyond.
The appointment strengthens the connection between Miller’s London and Bermuda operations. For brokers handling large or complex international property programmes, access to capacity across both markets can be important when structuring comprehensive insurance solutions. Having a senior executive focused on connecting the two markets also provides brokers with a more coordinated point of contact.
Hampden Risk Partners appoints James Drew as senior underwriter
Hampden Risk Partners (HRP) has appointed James Drew as senior underwriter for its Lloyd’s Syndicate 2689.
Drew will strengthen the syndicate’s underwriting capabilities across proportional business classes, with a focus on top-quartile Lloyd’s syndicates alongside a selective appetite for opportunities within the MGA and company markets.
He brings experience across both underwriting and outwards reinsurance, having held positions with MS Amlin, Brit, Aviva, IAG, Torus and Liberty Syndicates. Drew will report to active underwriter Giancarlo D’Alessandro, under chief executive Leah Rose.
HRP operates an “intelligent follow” model, following capacity from outperforming Lloyd’s syndicates through consortium and quota share arrangements. Under this structure, brokers do not typically deal directly with HRP in the same way they would with a lead underwriter.
The syndicate recorded an 84.1% net combined ratio during its first full year under the model, compared with a planned 94.5%. The result highlights the performance of the follow-capacity strategy and provides relevant context for brokers considering the reliability of capacity participating in their placements.
Drew’s appointment adds further underwriting expertise to this area and supports HRP’s ability to participate consistently across the classes of business being placed by brokers.
Brecon Specialty appoints Will Gow to lead cyber claims and coverage
Brecon Specialty has appointed Will Gow as global head of claims and coverage. The London-based cyber and technology E&O broker was launched by Sodalis Capital in March 2026.
Gow joins from Crawford & Company, where he served as UK head of cyber and technology risks. He has also held cyber claims positions with QuestGates and ASL.
A dual-qualified solicitor and loss adjuster, Gow brings both legal and claims expertise to the role. His appointment comes as cyber incidents continue to create increasingly complex challenges for businesses and their insurance partners.
IBM’s 2026 Cost of a Data Breach Report put the global average cost of a data breach at a record $4.99 million, while Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report reported ransomware in 44% of all breaches.
For brokers and their clients, cyber claims can involve both technical loss assessment and complex questions around policy coverage and legal interpretation. Gow’s combined legal and loss-adjusting background therefore provides Brecon Specialty with expertise across both areas.
Willis Networks promotes Lynne Norledge to managing director
Willis Networks, a WTW business, has appointed Lynne Norledge as managing director, with Mark Cobham taking on the position of deputy managing director.
Norledge joined WTW in 2017 and moved specifically into Willis Networks in January 2019 as head of sales. She brings more than four decades of broking experience, including senior positions with Marsh, Aon and HSBC Insurance Brokers.
Most recently, Norledge served as commercial director, where she was responsible for the network’s insurer relationship strategy. She succeeds John Read, who has stepped down as managing director.
Cobham has spent 30 years with the business and most recently served as networks services director, overseeing service delivery.
Norledge’s appointment represents an internal promotion rather than an external leadership change. Her experience in commercial operations and insurer relationships provides continuity for the network’s approach to managing insurer partnerships.
Pinion Insurance expands finance team with three senior hires
Specialty carrier Pinion Insurance has strengthened its finance function with three senior appointments reporting to group chief financial officer Chris Jones.
The London-headquartered, Bermuda-incorporated carrier began operations in February 2026 with up to $180 million in backing from Barings.
Kathryn Edwards has joined as group controller from Lloyd’s of London, where she served as chief accountant. Her responsibilities at Lloyd’s included external reporting, financial control and capital management across the Lloyd’s Corporation and market.
Brock Werner has joined as US treasurer and financial planning and analysis lead from Old Republic International. During his previous role, he helped establish accounting frameworks for six new operating subsidiaries.
James Green, a chartered accountant with expertise in finance automation, joins Pinion from Great Lakes Insurance.
Pinion operates as a capacity provider that partners with MGAs. While brokers placing business through Pinion-backed MGAs may not interact directly with the carrier’s finance team, the strength of its financial infrastructure remains important to the stability of the capacity supporting that business.
Finance, reporting, capital management and financial planning all contribute to a specialty carrier’s ability to maintain capacity and meet claims obligations as its operations expand.
Edwards’ experience in capital management at Lloyd’s is particularly relevant as Pinion develops its financial infrastructure as a relatively new carrier and builds relationships with MGA partners and the wider insurance market.
QuestGates appoints Stephen Ford to lead client and operational reporting
QuestGates has appointed Stephen Ford as head of client and operational reporting.
Ford joins following a 24-year career with Sedgwick, where he contributed to strategic data delivery across 19 territories worldwide. In his new position, he will work alongside technology director Steve Holland to lead the team responsible for producing client and operational data insights.
As a claims and loss-adjusting provider, QuestGates relies heavily on the quality and transparency of the claims information it delivers to insurer and broker clients.
Strengthening its reporting capabilities can give brokers clearer and more timely visibility into claims performance across their portfolios. This can be particularly valuable when reviewing renewal positions, monitoring claims developments and identifying adverse trends before they become larger concerns.
Clearwater Underwriting expands into crisis management with Tim Strong
Clearwater Underwriting has appointed Tim Strong as managing director, crisis management, as the marine-focused specialty underwriter expands into active assailant and terrorism and political violence insurance.
Strong joins from Aspen Insurance Group, where he spent more than 10 years and held the position of head of crisis management for several years.
His appointment gives Clearwater specialist experience as it develops its presence in a class of business covering terrorism, political violence and active assailant risks.
For brokers, the arrival of a new market participant led by an experienced crisis-management specialist could provide another option when placing these increasingly complex risks. Underwriting appetite and pricing can vary significantly across the market, making specialist expertise particularly important.
Strong’s previous experience at Aspen also provides a useful reference point for brokers assessing Clearwater’s developing appetite. At Aspen, average active assailant limits purchased were approximately $7.8 million, compared with a maximum limit of $25 million.
As Clearwater builds its new crisis-management portfolio, Strong’s experience is expected to play an important role in shaping its underwriting approach and market offering.
