White Bear MGA and Blenheim attract ex-Fidelis ceded reinsurance head

White Bear Group, the parent company of Lloyd’s insurer Blenheim Underwriting and MGA White Bear Managers, has recruited Fidelis’ recently departed head of outwards reinsurance, as it looks to expand its two underwriting businesses.

John Symms will join the company as group head of capital solutions. In his new role, he will source and develop re/insurance support for White Bear’s MGA lines and coordinate reinsurance at Blenheim.

Symms joins from Fidelis MGU where he most recently served as head of outwards reinsurance. Prior to that, he served Talbot Underwriting for 16 years as its outwards reinsurance manager.

Symms, who began his career in 1989 at English and American Insurance Company, served at Reliance National Insurance Company for 10 years, latterly in the role of reinsurance administration, placement and underwriting.

The appointment closely follows the addition of David Barber who joined Lloyd’s Blenheim Syndicate 5886 as a senior liability treater underwriter.

Peter Scales, chairman and CEO of White Bear Capital, said: “This appointment marks another important step in our ambitions for the Syndicate 5886 and the MGA. John is very well respected in the market, his track record is impressive, and he is the kind of high-calibre talent we are successfully looking to attract. He will lend valuable support and experience to our outwards reinsurance strategy across each of our lines of business.”

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