Gallagher’s Pen taps 17-year Travelers at Lloyd’s vet to expand in UK marine market

London-based managing general agent (MGA)  Pen Underwriting, a subsidiary of re/insurance broker  Gallagher, has bolstered its specialist marine expertise with hire of a London market underwriter, who joins from Travelers Syndicate.

Neil Bridge, an experienced ports & terminals specialist underwriter, has joined Pen’s marine team to support its portfolio growth.

Bridge joins Pen from Travelers Syndicate Management where he was senior underwriter and spent the past 17 years, having specialised in underwriting the ports and terminals class for well over a decade. Bridge brings extensive experience and expertise in ports and terminals, as well as the wider UK marine market.

The appointment is part of Pen’s continued investment in its new marine specialism following its acquisition of five specialist London-based marine managing general agents (MGAs) in April, and the acquisition of specialist Norwegian MGA Fender Marine earlier this month.

As senior underwriter at BMM Ports & Terminals (BMM P&T), Bridge will work with the team of specialist underwriters to further grow Pen’s portfolio, and ensure “sustainable profitability”.

Established in 2018, BMM P&T specialises in ports and terminals’ liability, tailoring insurance solutions to reflect the evolving risks and exposures of clients’ diversifying activity. BMM P&T joined Pen in April alongside Vessel Protect, Trafalgar Marine Trades, Freeboard Maritime and Fortify Marine “to bring new internationally focused underwriting capabilities” across marine trades’ liability, ports & terminals liability, marine war risks, kidnap & ransom, brown water and hull & machinery, the company said.

Chris Goddard, co-managing director of marine at Pen Underwriting, said: “We’re excited to welcome Neil to our expanding team of specialist underwriters, all dedicated to niche areas of the marine industry which require bespoke risk solutions. A leading presence in the London market, Neil brings considerable expertise and a real breadth and depth of experience to our BMM team that will ensure we continue to grow our ports and terminals portfolio with sustainable profitability.

“As we said on joining Pen, earlier this year, and becoming part of a larger organisation, we will keep investing in talented, entrepreneurial underwriters who will help maintain our strong growth trajectory and build out our diversified marine offering, while delivering great outcomes for our clients and capacity providers.”

Bridge commented: “After launching five years ago, BMM’s experienced and enterprising underwriters quickly established themselves as a key market for ports and terminals risks, with a reputation for responsiveness, service and customised solutions for clients. I’m really looking forward to joining the team to help grow the portfolio further while continuing to meet the evolving and complex needs of owners and operators, wherever they are in the world.”

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