Zurich has revealed plans to restructure its UK underwriting business, which include a number of new hires from rival firms and some strategic team changes.
The Swiss insurer wants to bolster its on-the-ground expertise at a regional level, particularly in the North of the country, and described the move as part of a continued “evolution to be a simpler, more streamlined and customer-focused organisation.”
Details of the shake-up include the creation of a new SME underwriting team in Leeds to handle small businesses with more complex requirements, which will see the existing team in Cardiff retain its focus on micro-SME and package business.
Croydon will also become the hub for business written through schemes, and a new centralised team in Birmingham will write international business outside London.
Key appointments will be made in Manchester to “balance expertise across the country.”
Statham will lead a new approach for Zurich, driving FL strategy with cross-class capabilities across directors & officers liability, professional indemnity, cyber financial institutions and crime business, the insurer said.
Mundy, who has more than 30 years of experience in the industry, will help ensure underwriting decisions across the North are made “swiftly and seamlessly.”
Other key senior appointments in the business include: Justin Wood, who joins the business from Aviva to lead retail and mid-market underwriting; Joachim Tolle, who has been appointed head of financial institutions business and joins from Brit Insurance; Adrian Jenner, who joins from Beazley and has been appointed as head of D&O; and James Roberts, who has been promoted to the role of head of regional markets, following the decision by Roy Standish, sales & distribution director, to leave the business. James is currently the head of broker market for the South East, and a replacement for this role is being sought.
Zurich’s UK CEO, Tulsi Naidu said, “We’ve had a positive start to the year, and I’d like to thank brokers and customers for their support. We have ambitious plans for growth from here, and to achieve this, we need to keep flexible, agile and have the right people in the right place.
“Our technical expertise is well-known, but making sure it’s well-balanced across the country means we will always be on-hand to help brokers and customers with their needs wherever they’re based. These new appointments in Manchester and our new team in Leeds reflect our growing capability across the country.”
