Rokstone expands into new line of business with AXA XL underwriter

Speciality re/insurance  MGA Rokstone, part of Aventum Group, has launched a specialist agriculture division targeting the US market, as part of its expansion strategy in North America. The unit will be led by a former AXA XL underwriter.

Eric Conklin (pictured) will lead Rokstone Agriculture Risk Underwriters. He has over 20 years’ experience underwriting livestock and equine business.

Prior to joining Rokstone, Conklin was the head of equine & livestock Americas for AXA XL, where he managed the equine portfolio and built a significant livestock business from the ground up.

Tony Lawrence, Rokstone’s chief digital distribution officer, said: “We are delighted Eric is joining us. We are an entrepreneurial people led business and the launch of this exciting new agriculture division is part of our strategy to expand in North America and diversify our speciality product range. Our specialist knowledge, use of technology and approach to underwriting means we can provide broader, more relevant cover, that’s quicker to secure than anywhere else.”

Conklin commented: “I am really excited to be joining Rokstone – its entrepreneurial DNA and its focus on creating long term value is inspiring.  We’re launching this new division at such a pivotal moment in US agriculture underwriting. It is an area that has suffered from lack of innovation and the hard market has been punishing.

"We plan to kick off and disrupt the underwriting approach with one of the US market’s first online quote and buy facilities for livestock risks. Rokstone has had outstanding success with this approach in the UK where its agricultural team (iFarm Underwriting) is now the fastest growing agricultural MGA in the UK. We plan to leverage that expertise and technical capability here in the US and will be supported by A rated capacity partners.”

Lawrence added: “ Rokstone is an entrepreneurial, people acquisitive business and the launch of this exciting new line signifies the latest move in our group wide strategy for considered growth. We now have more than 150 staff group wide and our recruitment strategy has shown no sign of slowing down during the global pandemic.”

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