Cowbell bolsters underwriting leadership with CNA, Corvus hires

Cowbell, a provider of cyber insurance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has bolstered its underwriting capabilities with new additions from CNA and Corvus to its UK and US teams.

Claud Bilbao joins as UK director of underwriting, reporting to Simon Hughes, general manager for UK operations. Matt Byrne (pictured) joins as vice president of tech E&O underwriting, reporting to Caroline Thompson, senior vice president of underwriting.

Bilbao most recently served as a senior underwriter at CNA, responsible for running the London Specialty Cyber and Technology portfolios on both their Company and Lloyd’s platforms. He played a vital role in the development and execution of CNA’s London strategy. Bilbao was previously a US technology and cyber underwriter at CFC Underwriting, where he was focused on US West Coast and Silicon Valley technology startups and SMEs.

Byrne has over eight years of underwriting experience in cyber and professional lines at traditional carriers and MGAs. He joins from Corvus. In addition to working on professional lines, Byrne has experience working on traditional P&C lines supporting larger programmes. He is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and focused on retail and wholesale relationships across the US.

These new hires come amid Cowbell’s ongoing expansion strategy, following the recent appointment of Andrea Collins as its first CMO, opening a new technology center in Pune, India, and announcement of Simon Hughes as general manager to lead the UK operations.

Trent Cooksley, co-founder, and chief operating officer at Cowbell, said: “We are dedicated to closing the insurability gap and making cyber insurance accessible to small to medium-sized businesses around the world. As seasoned underwriters with a wealth of experience across the cyber and technology insurance sector, Claud and Matt will help us deliver on this goal. They are valuable additions to our growing UK and US teams.”

Bilbao ommented: “I have seen firsthand how critical cyber insurance is for SMEs and large global enterprises. I am eager to bring my experience working with companies internationally to support Cowbell’s growing UK team.”

Byrne added: “I am thrilled to help the company continue innovating and delivering value to SMEs. I share Cowbell’s vision to close the SME insurability gap and am eager to use my skills to help drive Cowbell’s mission forward.”

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