Lloyd’s insurer Apollo draws AXA XL duo for specie and cargo expansion

Apollo Syndicate Management, an independent specialist re/insurer at Lloyd's, has formed a new leadership structure for its specie and cargo business with two market leaders joining its underwriting team from AXA XL.

Richard Panter joins as head of specie & cargo at Apollo Syndicate 1969. He will report to Paul Letherbarrow, head of aviation and member of the executive committee.

With over 37 years’ broking and underwriting experience, Panter was most recently a head of fine art and jewellers block at AXA XL, a role he had held since 2016. Prior to that, he held senior roles at Catlin and XL Catlin for more than 15 years. Panter started his insurance career as a broker in 1983.

Charlotte Wilson will also be joining Apollo Syndicate 1969 as head of fine art and deputy head of specie. She will report directly to Panter. Wilson’s most recent role was as global head of portfolio solutions at AXA XL where she focused on strategy development and new business opportunities. Between 2002 and 2019, Wilson also held a range senior positions at Catlin and later XL Catlin, including as fine art and specie underwriter and underwriting manager. Wilson joined the insurance market in 1996 as a broker at Sedgwick Insurance (now Marsh).

Ian Morton is head of jewellers block and deputy head of specie, he will report directly to Panter. Morton joined Apollo’s cargo and specie team in 2017. Prior to Apollo, he was a senior underwriter at AEGIS Syndicate for seven years and previous to that at Broadgate Syndicate.

Chris Terry is head of cargo, reporting directly to Panter. Terry has been deputy class underwriter for cargo and specie at Apollo Syndicate 1969 since 2012. Before joining Apollo, Terry was an assistant underwriter at Chaucer Syndicates between 2007 and 2012.

Panter and Wilson will join Apollo Syndicate 1969 upon completion of their current contractual obligations.

David Ibeson, group CEO at Apollo, said: “We have identified a range of opportunities in the improving specie and cargo market, which complement Apollo’s growth plans. Apollo’s specie and cargo team has produced a strong result thus far and Richard, Charlotte, Ian and Chris all have exceptional knowledge and experience to bring to the Syndicate, we are pleased to have attracted such talent.”

Ibeson added: “Their extensive market relationships, combined with both the growing talent within Apollo and the analytical and actuarial capabilities of our team, are set to consolidate our position as one of the strongest specie and cargo units at Lloyd’s. I am therefore very pleased to welcome Richard and Charlotte to Apollo.”