Gallagher’s Pen taps Markel for specialist marine underwriting expertise

London-based managing general agent (MGA) Pen Underwriting, a subsidiary of re/insurance broker  Gallagher, has bolstered its marine underwriting expertise with a senior hire from Markel. The move follows Pen's  acquisition of five specialist MGAs in April.

Pen has continued investment in its new marine specialism with the appointment of Chris Curran as underwriting consultant to Lloyd’s-backed Freeboard Maritime. Curran will help enhance its bespoke insurance offerings for marine professionals and logistics providers.

Established in June 2022, Freeboard specialises in cargo liability and marine professional indemnity (PI), and joined Pen alongside Vessel Protect, Trafalgar Marine Trades, BMM Ports & Terminals 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.

With over 35 years of underwriting experience, Curran brings along a network of specialised claims adjusters, brokers, and capacity relationships in the marine PI and cargo liability sectors.

Most recently, he served as a senior underwriter at Markel International for six years, where he focused on underwriting PI and errors & omissions risks for the marine and offshore energy sectors, as well as cargo liability for freight forwarding and logistics companies.

Paul Hartley, co-managing director of marine at Pen Underwriting, said: “It’s fantastic to have a specialist underwriter of Chris’ calibre and capability joining us at arguably our most exciting juncture. A seasoned underwriter within an MGA framework, Chris will be a superb asset for both Freeboard and Pen, as we embed and expand a diversified marine offering within Pen and invest in continuing our story of sustainable growth. We are delighted to welcome him to the team.”

Curran added: “Having the freedom, support and capacity to tailor insurance policies to meet the specific needs of clients is the challenge every good underwriter seeks. And Freeboard Maritime, as a newly established specialist in marine PI and cargo liability committed to providing unrivalled service and led by experienced underwriters, has built a compelling proposition. I’m very much looking forward to supporting Tom Batterbury, Josh Melville and the rest of the Freeboard team build and grow something distinctively different for brokers and their clients.”

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