The UK insurance industry is experiencing a new wave of senior-level appointments spanning trade bodies, broking firms, investment management, and specialist underwriting businesses.
BPL appoints new COO
BPL has named Emilia Levett as chief operating officer as the London-based intermediary advances its next phase of growth.
Levett joins from WTW, where she most recently served as head of strategy and execution for Global Direct & Facultative, having previously held the role of chief of staff within the same division.
In her new position, she will support BPL’s global operations, focusing on strategic initiatives such as data utilisation, artificial intelligence integration, technology-driven solutions, and the development of high-performing teams.
Her appointment follows BPL’s recent expansion into Japan and a minority investment from Preservation Capital Partners.
L&G enhances pension risk transfer investment leadership
L&G has appointed Rob Groves, former chief investment officer at Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC), as chief investment officer for its Institutional Retirement division—one of the leading players in the global pension risk transfer (PRT) market.
Groves brings extensive experience from PIC, where he oversaw strategy, asset-liability management, and portfolio construction for a portfolio valued at approximately £55 billion. He also established a back-book optimisation function focused on active portfolio management, capital efficiency, and disciplined de-risking.
At L&G, he will lead global investment strategy and portfolio management for the Institutional Retirement business, managing a team of around 100 professionals. The division’s portfolio is designed to align with long-term pension liabilities through stable, long-duration cashflows, primarily in public credit, alongside allocations to investment-grade private credit, sovereign and quasi-sovereign bonds, and a smaller direct property portfolio.
ABI expands board with four senior appointments
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has added four new members to its board, strengthening representation across key sectors including retail, life, pensions, and health insurance.
Laura Mason, CEO of retail at Legal & General, joins following the company’s recent membership. She is joined by Chris Rash, CEO of AIG UK; Dominic Veney, interim CEO at Pension Insurance Corporation; and Richard Washington, CEO of Bupa UK Insurance, who have been appointed to existing board positions.
The ABI board plays a central role in overseeing regulatory, political, and consumer-related issues while guiding the organisation’s strategic direction and priorities.
ARTes Specialty targets construction sector growth
Specialist managing general agent ARTes Specialty has appointed Martin Parker as head of construction to lead a newly established division focused on SME and mid-market construction and engineering risks.
Parker brings over two decades of experience in the sector. He previously served as head of construction at Markel UK and spent 19 years at HSB Engineering Insurance, where he held senior roles including head of digital trading, with a strong focus on portfolio management.
In his new role, Parker will drive the development of ARTes’ construction offering, emphasising disciplined underwriting, consistent long-term pricing, and a robust digital trading approach.
The MGA also plans to enhance its digital capabilities across construction products while maintaining direct broker access to experienced underwriters.
