Rokstone hires former SCOR underwriting talent to expand in D&F market

Speciality re/insurance  MGA Rokstone, part of Aventum Group, has bolstered its direct & facultative (D&F) property business with the hiring of a former SCOR underwriter. Its deputy chief executive James Potter said that the industry's talent is now more attracted by the agility and entrepreneurial spirit rather than the traditional company market or Lloyd’s.

Jack Pickard (pictured) has joined Rokstone as a senior property underwriter.

The hiring comes as Rokstone expects to hit $200 million GWP in its D&F property book alone on the back of “huge organic growth”. Overall, the company is anticipating to write circa $750 million GWP across all lines in 2021.

Pickard comes latterly from Geo Specialty, where he was property underwriter for five years.  Before that he spent six years with SCOR’s Channel Syndicate where he was international property underwriter.

Rokstone said Pickard has long-standing relationships with brokers and significant capacity providers with a particular expertise in the Australian and Canadian D&F property markets.

Potter, deputy CEO of Rokstone, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Jack to the team. His appointment will complement and grow our already market leading Property D&F team which now has more than 200 years’ combined experience amongst a team of eight underwriters. That level of senior expertise really makes us stand apart – particularly in this current hard market.

“MGAs like Rokstone have now established themselves as the primary choice for great underwriting talent that previously would have gone to Lloyd’s or the company market, but that traditional model has been turned on its head in recent years. Talent is now attracted by the agility, entrepreneurial spirit, superior service and therefore growth, being enjoyed by the best MGAs now.”

Pickard commented: “I am hugely excited about joining the Rokstone team, their culture and values epitomise that of a market leading forward thinking MGA business of choice.”

Did you get value from this story?  Sign up to our free daily newsletters and get stories like this sent straight to your inbox.