The Texel Group, a specialist credit and political risk insurance broker, has announced the addition of two new brokers to its London office. Ivan Jesensky (pictured) and Michaela du Toit (pictured) bring to the company significant expertise in digitisation and structured finance, respectively.
Jesensky has joined as Texel’s first digitisation broker. Reporting to Simon Bessant, head of insurance and a director at Texel, Jesensky will focus on building out the company’s use of technology and software, integrating innovative solutions within the firm’s operations. His role involves understanding the digital landscape’s impact on clients and ensuring Texel remains current with digital transformation trends.
Jesensky previously worked at LiquidX as director of client solutions for EMEA. There, he led the rollout of a digital RFQ platform used by a credit and political risk insurance (CPRI) broker and managed trade finance transactions, deal marketing, and execution. He has also served as head of portfolio management at Greensill and held project management roles at Restore and Cintas.
Michaela du Toit joins Texel’s structured and bespoke solutions (SBS) team, reporting to Alan Ball, head of SBS and a director at Texel. Du Toit will focus on developing customized applications of credit insurance for clients.
Du Toit comes to Texel from A&O Shearman, where she was an associate in the derivatives and structured finance practice. Her work included public CLO transactions, warehouse financings, fund financing, and originator financings. She also worked as an associate at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc. in Johannesburg.
Bessant commented on the new appointments, saying, “We are delighted to welcome Michaela and Ivan to the growing Texel team. We see an opportunity to focus on efficiencies in structured credit transactions and Michaela’s experience is ideally suited for helping us support clients in novel and innovative applications of credit insurance.
“We are also seeing opportunities to develop a greater understanding of our clients’ digital journeys. Further to our recent deal with Bondaval, we see a significant value in digital solutions for our clients. We want to facilitate digital collaboration and connections between our clients and insurers so it’s brilliant to welcome Ivan as our dedicated broker for this.”
Bessant said Texel’s recent agreement with Bondaval emphasizes the firm’s focus on digital solutions. He noted the addition of Jesensky and du Toit demonstrates Texel’s ongoing efforts to support client needs and foster digital collaboration between clients and insurers.
Have something to say about this story? Leave a comment below.
