QBE has announced that the leadership of its trade credit team in Europe has been restructured through several key promotions.
Seb Rice has been appointed as commercial head, trade credit. In his new role, Rice will lead the new business and retention strategy for the trade credit team as part of an “ongoing growth focus” for the portfolio, a release said. Having joined QBE in 2013, Rice most recently served as the leader of the new business underwriting team, trade credit, for Europe.
In addition to Rice’s appointment, QBE has also named Dave Murray as head of new business for trade credit, and Jamie Calder as head of risk underwriting.
Both Murray and Calder were both previously jointly responsible for the risk underwriting team; they have both been with QBE since 2015.
Murray will have responsibility for new business generation, working closely with brokers to consider new opportunities for trade credit. Meanwhile, Calder will head the trade credit risk underwriting team, which is responsible for credit risk appetite and strategy.
According to the company, it made the promotions following news that Ian Bocca, commercial underwriting trade credit manager, would be retiring by the end of March this year.
“Trade credit insurance has become an increasingly critical part of a business’s risk management as our customers navigate a turbulent economic outlook,” said QBE Europe head of trade credit and surety Trevor Williams. “Our new appointments will form the core of our trade credit team at QBE Europe, ensuring best in class service for our customers.”
Williams added that he was pleased QBE was able to appoint these roles from within, showcasing “the depth of talent” that QBE has. The trade credit head also thanked Bocca for his service over the past 10 years and wished him the best in his retirement.
In other news, earlier this week QBE rolled out enhanced family leave policies for its employees. The insurer is now offering its UK employees their basic salary over a 26-week period for both paternity and maternity leave, as well as up to 52 weeks of parental leave.
