Lockton expands P&C Specialties division with senior hire

Re/insurance broker  Lockton has tasked a 30 year London Market leader with a background at Chesterfield and Markel to build out its P&C Specialties’ binders and facilities business.

Michael James has been appointed as head of facilities & binders within its London property & casualty (P&C) specialties division. James will report to Adam Watson, head of North American property.

In his new role, James will be involved in building out the P&C Specialties’ binders and facilities business, focusing on strategic cross-class growth areas for the division, including North American property and casualty. Additionally, he will lead initiatives to broaden the team’s expertise, as well as enhancing the division’s use of data and analytics, technology and digital processes.

James brings more than 30 years of London Market experience to Lockton, across both broking and underwriting disciplines, having overseen business originating from a range of geographies. He joins Lockton after 10 years at Chesterfield, where he was a North American binders & facilities broker and took a leading role in establishing the direction and expansion of that book of business. Before that, he was an underwriter and head of North America at Markel, based in London.

James’ arrival marks the latest addition to Lockton’s rapidly expanding P&C specialties division, following the appointment of Robert Rechtern, head of accident & health, sports and contingency in October 2022. The broker is looking to build out its specialty segments.

Simon Scholfield, partner, head of P&C specialities at Lockton, said: “Michael is a fantastic addition to the P&C Specialties team. His performance to date of building and growing profitable facilities and binders business, particularly in North America, perfectly complements the wealth of talent and expertise Lockton is already home to, and will place us well to excel in a time of strategic and sustainable growth. I am delighted to welcome Michael to the team and, with his added skills, look forward to providing an even more specialist service.”

James said: “It is an exciting time to join Lockton, as demand grows for hyper-focused, tailored solutions in the facilities and binders space. To bring those solutions to market requires flexibility and a nimble approach, which is what attracted me to Lockton, as the world’s largest independent broker. It is a pleasure to join Simon and the rest of the team, I cannot wait to get started.”

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