Ripe, Fenchurch Law, and Optio Group have added new colleagues to their respective rosters.
Manchester-based digital managing general agent Ripe has named David Rowntree (pictured above) as chief underwriting officer. Rowntree – who brings more than two decades of experience from senior roles at Zurich, RSA, Legal & General, and Swiss Re – most recently led property and SME for Wakam across the UK and Europe.
At Ripe, Rowntree’s mandate will include enhancing product development, leveraging data-driven underwriting strategies, and expanding relationships with insurance partners to support the company’s growing portfolio.
“As the business is scaling and with new capacity coming into Ripe, it is the right time to appoint a chief underwriting officer – and we are thrilled that David will fill this crucial role,” said Ripe chief executive Alan Thomas.
“Along with his impressive track record, David’s personal style is collaborative while working at pace and driving results which aligns perfectly with our culture. He is a great fit to drive our underwriting strategy forward as we continue to build new products, pursue acquisitions, and expand the team.”
UK insurance law firm Fenchurch Law is boosting its line-up with the addition of two hires in Leeds and London.
Chris Ives (pictured below) joins as a partner in Leeds, bringing more than 20 years of experience in handling complex, high-value claims for corporate clients across a variety of risk areas. Formerly a principal associate at Eversheds Sutherland, Ives has also held positions at DAC Beachcroft and Addleshaw Goddard.
In his new role, Ives will focus on clients in the North of England within the firm’s financial and professional risks practice group.
Joining Fenchurch Law’s office in London, Pawinder Manak (pictured immediately above) will serve as a trainee solicitor, also under financial and professional risks. Having studied at University College London, Manak will bring her background in diverse legal internships to support clients facing coverage disputes.
Managing partner Joanna Grant noted: “Their combined legal and insurance knowledge will be invaluable in helping Fenchurch Law continue to level the playing field for policyholders in the UK and around the world.”
The appointments follow recent international moves by the firm, including a new office in Singapore and a planned expansion in Denmark.
At Optio, the specialty MGA has appointed Joanna Eilts as its first-ever head of legal. The London-based hire was previously with Goodwin Procter as a senior private-equity lawyer and brings broad expertise in M&A (mergers and acquisitions) transactions and corporate counsel for private-equity-owned firms, financial investors, and corporate entities.
Reporting to chief financial officer Mark Mugge, Eilts is expected to be instrumental in Optio’s strategy to grow through transactions across Europe.
CEO Deepak Soni highlighted: “Joanna’s wide-ranging experience and expertise brings essential legal knowledge to the senior team as we embark on further acquisitions and scale up our operations. It therefore gives me great pleasure to welcome her as we work to maximise Optio’s value to our customers and stakeholders at this exciting time for our business and the markets we serve.”
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