Rottiers replaces Vandendael as Lloyd’s Brussels CEO

Sonja Rottiers has been appointed as the CEO of Lloyd’s Brussels, replacing Vincent Vandendael who  had been appointed to the post in May 2018.

Lloyd’s of London announced in August 2018 that Vincent Vandendael was leaving the corporation after almost six years to become CEO of International Insurance at Everest Insurance in early 2019.

Rottiers will also be Lloyd’s regional director for Europe, Middle East and Africa, and will take up her position in February 2019.

The Lloyd’s Brussels subsidiary is supposed to ensure that the market can write non-life risks from the European Economic Area (EEA) after the UK leaves the EU, ensuring that Lloyd’s customers can continue to access the market’s specialist underwriting.

Rottiers’ career spans over 30 years in the Belgian financial services industry, including senior leadership positions in insurance and banking. Most recently she was a non-executive board member for ING Belgium, and member of the board of directors for Kinepolis NV Group and Leasinvest Real Estate. Previously, she was chief finance and data officer and executive member of the board of directors of AXA Belgium.

John Neal, Lloyd’s CEO, said: “I am delighted to welcome Sonja to Lloyd’s. Her wealth of experience across the financial services industry and in leading companies ensures she is well positioned to drive our business forward in Europe.

“Lloyd’s Brussels marks a major milestone for Lloyd’s. Now that it is already placing and processing European business, Sonja will focus on ensuring that it is also well positioned to grow as a customer-focused European insurance company.”

Commenting on her appointment, Rottiers added: “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join Lloyd’s at this exciting time in its history. The European risk landscape is changing, and there is increased demand for the specialist risk solutions that Lloyd’s excels at. I am looking forward to the new opportunities that Lloyd’s Brussels will bring to the market, and to help grow our business in the continent.”

Lloyd’s Brussels has also announced two new additions to its board of directors, with Michel Flamée appointed as chairman of the company and Christian Noyer joining as non-executive director.

Flamée was a member of the board of directors of National Bank of Belgium, and chairman of the Belgian Centre for Arbitration and Mediation (CEPANI). Throughout his career he sat in the boards of various regulatory bodies, including the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA).

Noyer has been honorary governor of the Bank of France since 2015 following a ten year period as the governor. He is also a member of the French Fiscal Council and an advisor to the French Government on issues related to Brexit.

Delphine Marchessaux also joins Lloyd’s Brussels in the new year as chief underwriting officer. Marchessaux will take up her post in January and joins from Axa Corporate Solutions in France, where she was head of underwriting cargo.

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