Industry player EIA Global has strengthened its trade credit and political risk team with the hiring of Willis Towers Watson senior executive John Lavelle.
The specialist insurer has appointed Lavelle as a senior managing director for trade credit, structured trade and political risk insurance.
Based in New York, Lavelle will “assist EIA Global in serving its existing clients more effectively and expanding its client base,” according to EIA Global president Al Giandomenico.
He said Lavelle has a “level of expertise and professionalism that sets him apart from his peers,” along with his over 30 years of experience in trade credit, political risk and trade finance.
“He is highly accomplished and well-regarded by clients and underwriters alike and adds significant breadth and depth to the expertise of EIA Global’s professional staff,” Giandomenico said.
Lavelle has served as both an insurer and broker and has worked with corporations and financial institutions. He comes from Willis Towers Watson, where he spent more than 11 years as deputy managing director and practice leader for trade credit, structured trade and political risks.
“John has a great wealth of knowledge on trade credit, political risk and trade finance issues. He is especially skilled and experienced in structured trade and project finance transactions,” Giandomenico said.
EIA Global, the US partner of specialist insurance broker BPL Global of London, recruited Lavelle following the latter’s impressive year of expansion.
In the past 12 months, BPL Global has increased its workforce by over 10%. Newly appointed senior executives include James Reynolds and Jonny Carruthers, assistant directors in the London office.
BPL Global managing director James Esdaile said the company is tooling up in London, Middle East and Asia in response to the increasing demand for credit and political risk insurance.