A series of leadership appointments and strategic shifts across the UK managing general agent (MGA) and underwriting sector are set to influence business direction, product development and operational focus heading into 2025.
Aqueous Underwriting has promoted Dan Dorrell (pictured above) to the newly created role of head of property & casualty.
The MGA, which focuses on professional indemnity and SME package business across the food, hospitality, leisure and hotel sectors, said the appointment is part of its plan to accelerate product innovation in response to shifting market needs.
Dorrell, previously trading & distribution manager at Aqueous, will lead a team developing tailored P&C insurance products and implementing pricing strategies aligned with customer expectations.
He will also be responsible for attracting talent, delivering operational efficiency, and supporting the MGA’s broker relationships.
At Touchstone Underwriting, a subsidiary of Seventeen Group, Mike Patston has been named managing director following the retirement of Alan Roe. Patston has been with the business since 2015 and most recently served as deputy MD from January 2024.
Seventeen Group CEO Paul Anscombe said the appointment reflects a strategy of leadership continuity and future growth.
Roe, reflecting on his 15-year tenure, noted that Touchstone had evolved into a diverse specialist MGA during his time with the company. He credited Seventeen Group’s board and colleagues for their support and extended best wishes to Patston in the new role.
Patston said that Touchstone aims to become the “go-to MGA for both standard and niche insurance products,” and that the business will focus on cross-class consolidation and expanding broker engagement to drive policy growth in 2025.
Earlier this year, the MGA announced a partnership aimed at supporting small and mid-sized brokerages, with Touchstone teaming up with Keys Premium Finance to help boost its broker offerings.
Meanwhile, Argenta has appointed Inga Brand as unit head, energy liability, with immediate effect.
Based in London, Brand will report to Heath Callan, divisional head of energy & marine. She takes responsibility for overseeing the growth of Argenta’s energy liability portfolio and ensuring its alignment with the company’s long-term strategy. Her role will also include stakeholder engagement and the development of underwriting talent.
Brand joins from White Bear Managers, a Blenheim-owned MGA, where she co-founded its energy liability offering. Her previous roles include head of energy, construction and marine liability at Liberty Specialty Markets, and earlier underwriting roles at Aspen Insurance and Syndicate 1861.
Her appointment is expected to support Argenta’s market share expansion and technical underwriting focus within the energy liability space.
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