Canopius shakes up underwriting leadership to strike ‘better balance’

Lloyd’s specialty re/insurer  Canopius Group has overhauled its global underwriting function in a move aimed to “create a better balance” and improve its growth potential in key areas of operations.

Canopius’ global underwriting operations has been reorganised into four key areas: specialty, short tail, reinsurance and casualty. The company hopes this will enhance focus on specialist underwriting capabilities and enable its three business regions to reach their greatest potential.

As part of the move, each of Canopius’ business units – the UK, US & Bermuda and APAC – are “empowered” with each gaining its own executive team, allowing the business unit to better focus on serving its brokers and customers.

Sarah Willmont has been promoted to UK CEO and Alois Rouffiac to UK chief underwriting officer (CUO). Lisa Davis remains as CEO, US & Bermuda, with a CUO for that region to be announced in due course. Mark Newman also remains as CEO of Canopius APAC, with Yann Marmonier promoted to APAC CUO.

Canopius’s claims function will now also be represented on both the group and regional executive teams and will reflect the global underwriting structure in its design.

The restructure also led to the creation of new leadership roles in underwriting, three of which have been filled internally, underlining its “commitment to enabling talent from within its business”.

Charles Craigs has been promoted to group head of reinsurance, Rachel Sabbarton to group head of short tail and Bernie de Haldevang, group head of specialty. A group head of casualty will be announced in due course.

Neil Robertson (pictured), Canopius group chief executive officer (CEO) said: “We have made changes to the structure of our business to create a better balance between our global product offering and our regional business units. This will also enhance our strength – both from a performance and operational perspective – and creates benefits for all stakeholders, and most specifically our customers.”

He added: “With dedicated teams now in place and important new senior leadership positions filled with proven talent from within, this restructure advances our potential to realise our growth ambitions and drives empowerment throughout the organisation.”

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