CFC has confirmed the appointment of Nick Line (pictured above) as its next chief underwriting officer, with oversight of underwriting strategy and performance across the group.
Line is due to join in 2026, following the conclusion of his tenure at Markel, where he has worked for 28 years, including as CUO since 2018.
The appointment is part of a broader leadership reshuffle at CFC, a specialist insurance provider known for its focus on emerging risks and cyber insurance. The company has stated that its recent executive hires are intended to support its continued international expansion and position it for long-term growth across its core business lines.
Line has worked in both actuarial and underwriting functions since entering the insurance industry in 1997. At Markel, he has played a role in developing new product offerings, expanding into international markets, and integrating acquisitions. Under his leadership, the company broadened the scope and scale of its underwriting portfolio and invested in strengthening its underwriting discipline and operational infrastructure.
CFC’s announcement also highlighted Line’s industry involvement outside his corporate responsibilities. He currently chairs the Inclusion @ Lloyd’s committee, which aims to promote diversity and inclusion in the Lloyd’s market, and is a member of the Lloyd’s Market Association’s CUO Committee, a forum for underwriting leaders to discuss market-wide issues and developments.
The two companies have had a working relationship since 2019, with Markel acting as a capacity provider across various parts of CFC’s managing general agent (MGA) portfolio, including transaction liability and terrorism insurance. This ongoing collaboration has seen both businesses engage on product innovation and capacity deployment in specialist lines.
CFC Group CEO Louise O’Shea said Line’s experience in technical underwriting and international operations would support the business’s strategic direction. She noted that CFC and Markel share a similar approach to service delivery and team culture, which she said would support Line’s transition into the role.
Line said the decision to leave Markel followed nearly three decades at the company and reflected his interest in taking on new challenges. He said CFC’s focus on innovation and a flexible operating model had long appealed to him, and that the opportunity offered a platform to apply his experience in a new context.
