Martin Werth to step-down as CEO of UnderwriteMe

Martin Werth is to step-down as CEO of UnderwriteMe, a supplier of underwriting rules engines, with effect from the end of March.

Werth is to become a non-executive director and will continue to be closely involved in the business. James Tait will take over as UnderwriteMe CEO. In his current role, as head of protection at Pacific Life Re Europe and a non-executive director of UnderwriteMe, Tait has been directly involved with UnderwriteMe and is well known to many of UnderwriteMe’s partners.

Werth founded UnderwriteMe in 2012 with Pacific Life Re backing. In 2019 sales of its Protection Platform doubled, and it has just completed a record January 2020.

Werth commented: “This has been a really hard decision. Setting up and growing the business is a full-on venture that can’t be sustained forever. The best time to step down is following a record-breaking year. We have built a great management team and James is an excellent person to lead the business in its next growth phase. As a non-executive director, I will continue to stay close to the business."

Tait added: “UnderwriteMe has experienced phenomenal growth since it launched in 2014. The business is now a leading provider of underwriting technology in many markets around the world and the Protection Platform in the UK is helping intermediaries transform the way Protection is sold. I am looking forward to leading the team and the business through its next phase of growth and building on the strong foundations that Martin Werth has put in place. I would like to thank Martin for his vision and commitment to UnderwriteMe.”

Pippa Keefe, head of sales & marketing for UnderwriteMe, is also stepping down. She will be leaving the business at the end of March. She said: “I am proud of what the business has achieved during my time at UnderwriteMe. I leave behind some very talented people who I know will flourish.”

Nilesh Patel will be seconded from Pacific Life Re into the head of sales and marketing role. Patel is currently head of underwriting and claims development at Pacific Life Re.

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