Optio Group, a specialist managing general agent (MGA), has announced the appointment of Marc Van der Veer (pictured above) as managing director, Europe, a newly created position.
The group highlighted the appointment, effective immediately, as part of its strategy to drive growth through acquisitions across the European market.
In his role, Van der Veer will focus on identifying and leading new acquisitions in Europe, a key component of Optio’s global expansion plans.
Van der Veer brings 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, having held several senior positions. He joins Optio from MGM Holdings and previously served as chief executive officer of European Ventures at Nexus Group.
He joined Nexus in 2019 from the Ardonagh Group, where he was CEO, International for specialty MGA Geo Underwriting. Van der Veer’s earlier roles include general manager at PartnerRe Wholesale, chief underwriting officer at Torus, and managing director of Hiscox Europe.
Deepak Soni, CEO of Optio Group, commented on the appointment, saying that Marc’s extensive leadership experience both in London and Europe positions him well for the role.
“Marc’s long-held track record of senior roles speak to his calibre as a highly effective and respected leader both in London and Europe. His considerable talents will be a great asset as we look to acquire more high-quality, speciality businesses and entrepreneurial teams in the UK and Europe, as a core part of our ambitious plans for further profitable growth,” Soni said.
Van der Veer’s appointment follows Optio’s recent acquisitions, which include Netherlands and Brussels-based MGA Den Hartigh Beheer & Exploitatie B.V., Luxembourg-based Circles Group, and Italian MGA Heca.
Heca, established in Ortona, Abruzzo, in 2010, has become a prominent MGA in Italy, offering a range of products and a fully digital platform complemented by personalised service. The company is known for its proprietary customer relationship management system, which provides brokers and intermediaries with extensive support.
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