RSA bolsters UK specialty lines cyber underwriting business

RSA Insurance has bolstered its UK specialty lines cyber business by hiring a senior underwriter from CNA Hardy in a bid to enhance its offering with a “comprehensive product” that addresses cyber security and data privacy issues. The executive previously gained experience at Hiscox and Towergate.

Henry Westwood has been appointed as senior specialist underwriter in its UK specialty lines cyber business.

Westwood will join the business on May 15 from CNA Hardy and will be responsible for leading the stand alone cyber underwriting practice in the UK.

Westwood started his career at Towergate Insurance as an assistant underwriter, before joining Hiscox in 2015. He spent more than five years at Hiscox, before joining CNA Hardy in 2020 as a technology & cyber risks underwriter, later becoming a senior underwriter in April 2022.

Additionally, Carol Nguyen, a senior technology underwriter at Intact, will begin a six-month secondment with the team in London.

Nguyen started her career at Liberty Mutual Canada in Toronto as an intermediate underwriting operations associate, commercial lines & construction. In 2018, she joined Intact as a specialty solutions underwriter, before becoming a technology underwriter in 2019.

Both Westwood and Nguyen will join existing team members Nicky Parker (portfolio manager for cyber), Mathias Jeppesen (cyber underwriter) and Nigel Pearson, group cyber underwriting director at RSA Insurance.

Pearson said: “The demand for cyber insurance continues to grow in response to an ever increasing frequency of ransomware and data breach incidents. New legislation is also being enacted that addresses cyber security and data privacy in many jurisdictions that will only increase the potential liabilities for organisations. Having a comprehensive product that addresses these issues is very much part of our Specialty Lines strategy.

“I’m therefore delighted to welcome both Henry and Carol to RSA. They’re both great additions and, alongside the team we already have, will support our growth ambitions in this space.

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