ACE strengthens European cyber practice

ACE Group has appointed Kyle Bryant as regional cyber manager, Continental Europe.

The appointment follows the launch of ACE’s global cyber risk practice, established to facilitate the sharing of global expertise for the benefit of buyers.

Bryant, previously assistant vice president at ACE USA, will have management responsibility for ACE’s growing cyber risk business across Continental Europe.

He will focus on bringing together ACE’s first and third-party expertise, underwriting capabilities, risk management and incident response services to deliver bespoke, market-leading solutions to brokers and clients, said the company.

Bryant will report to Grant Cairns, regional manager, financial lines for ACE in Continental Europe and will work in close partnership with Gilbert Flepp, cyber risks manager (first party) for ACE in Continental Europe. He will initially be based in London.

Cairns said: “At ACE, we are committed to bringing together our global cyber risk experience for the benefit of our local customers. European brokers and clients tell us that the insurance industry still has some way to go in meeting their expectations for clearer, more comprehensive cyber risk solutions.

“With his extensive experience in the fast-maturing US cyber market and deep expertise in third-party liability risks, I am confident that Kyle’s appointment will help us to enhance our customer proposition in a way that responds to these market challenges in Europe.”

Steven Reiss, chief operating officer for ACE in Continental Europe, said: “In ACE’s research last year, European companies ranked cyber as one of the top three emerging risks most likely to have a financial impact on their business – while those in Germany and France awarded it first and second place respectively.

“Yet every company’s risk profile is different and there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution. This investment will allow us to build on our strong market position, enabling us to unlock our first and third party underwriting, risk engineering and incident response capabilities for middle-market and global accounts alike, in a tailored way that meets their needs.”