Optio Group has appointed Matthew Fosh as its new executive chairman, making this his industry comeback in an executive capacity after stepping down from his role at AXIS last year.
Fosh is known as a business builder with an underwriting background and automated trading experience gained during his time in banking, making him, according to Optio, the ideal fit to lead business straddling complex specialty classes and the firm’s Optio Connect automated trading platform.
“I am extremely excited to be joining Optio to help address the enormous market opportunity enjoyed by the group. Optio has an exceptionally talented team, and I am delighted to part of it,” Fosh said.
Current executive chairman David Umbers will remain in the group as non-executive director and work closely with Fosh.
Commenting on the changes, Optio chief executive officer Kevin Hastings said: “I am clearly delighted that Matthew has chosen to join us. We have built a market-leading, technology-driven underwriting business relentlessly focused on delivering profits to our capital providers. We are hugely ambitious for the business, and the opportunity for our long-term growth has never been greater.
“Matthew’s involvement is a major step as we develop our growth plans, and I look forward to working with him. We are also delighted that David Umbers will be staying on the board. His contribution to the group is hard to overstate, and we are extremely pleased we will continue to benefit from his wise counsel.”
