Rush of new appointments at underwriting firms

Three insurance firms have made new appointments in the hope of boosting growth in their respective fields

Insurance News

By Callum Glennen

Yesterday was a busy day for appointments as three insurers announced new additions to their underwriting teams. In no particular order, ArgoGlobal, Horizon and Tokio Marine Kiln all announced new hires.

First, at ArgoGlobal, Darren Long has been appointed to the role of cargo underwriter. ArgoGlobal is a member of the Argo Group, an international underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products in the property and casualty market. Long takes up the role immediately, and reports to cargo class underwriter Jon Hamilton. Long has joined from Chubb Syndicate 1882 where he most recently served as cargo class underwriter.

Hamilton said he is delighted to welcome Long to the company’s growing cargo team.

“He has an exceptional technical understanding of this sector and a network of close broker relationships, which will be invaluable in achieving our ambitions for this class,” said Hamilton. “We have set ambitious targets, however, by continuing to recruit underwriters of Darren’s calibre to complement our existing expertise, I am confident that we will realise our goals.”

At Horizon, a specialist underwriting agency for high value homes, Ryan Piner has been appointed to the role of senior development underwriter. This is Horizon’s third additional underwriting appointment since launching in February 2015.

Piner was previously at Oak Underwriting for 11 years where he served as a new business underwriter. Managing director at Horizon, Calvin Owen said Piner will help meet the growing demands on the business.

“Ryan is extremely well regarded by brokers and brings a broad network of contacts as well as senior-level knowledge and experience to Horizon,” said Owen. “He will be a tremendous asset as we develop the business further in close collaboration with our broker partners, and I am extremely pleased to welcome him to the team.”

Piner will take up the position in August.

Finally, at Tokio Marine Kiln Ben Amphlett has been appointed as deputy underwriter of aviation. Amphlett has 15 years of experience underwriting aviation risks and will be reporting to James Walker, active underwriter, aviation.

Group chief underwriting officer at Tokio Marine Kiln Paul Culham said like many classes of business, aviation has seen a significant softening of rates in the last several years.

“The way we are looking to stay ahead in such a tough market is by having experienced, technical underwriters who truly understand their business line,” said Culham. “Ben is an example of this: he has all-round experience in multiple disciplines of aviation, especially in contingency, a strand of business that we have not previously been writing.”


Related stories:
Barbican poaches Lloyd’s veteran from Argo
Tokio Marine Kiln commits to Europe despite Brexit
 

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