Market Moves - 13 February 2014

Insurers

Ace
Ace Group has appointed Nick Lee as head of client management for UK & Ireland. Lee will report to UK & Ireland chief operating officer Phil Sharpe, and will be responsible for driving forward Ace’s customer service proposition. He will also ensure the group’s client relationship management processes for global clients deliver a service that is proportionate with the insurer’s underwriting capability. Lee joined Ace in March 2010 as client relationship manager for the UK & Ireland major risks business. Prior to this he spent 20 years at Willis, latterly as account director in its corporate risk solutions division.

CFC
Underwriting agency CFC has appointed Nick Woodward to the new role of claims and products director. Woodward, a claims professional and solicitor, joins CFC from HCC International. Woodward has also worked at law firms Eversheds, CMS Cameron McKenna and Davies Arnold Cooper. He can be contacted on nwoodward@cfcunderwriting.com or 020
7220 8500.

HCC International
HCC International has appointed Simon Calderbank to its London professional indemnity division to focus on IT and communications risks. Calderbank was previously QBE senior technology and cyber underwriter, and has also worked at Hiscox and CNA. He can be contacted on scalderbank@hccint.com or 020 7680 2910.

Brokers

Barbon Insurance Group
Barbon Insurance Group has appointed Simon Ellen as its new chairman. He takes over from Malcolm McCaig, who has been a Barbon board member for seven years and chairman since last October. Ellen, whose appointment is subject to regulatory approval, is an experienced chairman and non-executive director of mainly regulated privately owned financial services industry organisations, including insurance and insurance intermediary businesses such as First Assist, Garwyn and SBJ.

Higos Insurance Services
Higos Insurance Services has bolstered its commercial insurance team with several new additions from rival Bluefin. Chris Smoldon, Stacey Fowles, Derek Hadlow and Kevin Jackson have been appointed corporate account executives and will be tasked with progressing the commercial growth plans Higos has in place for 2014. Pete Rayner has joined the construction department, based in Higos’ Somerton office. They have been joined by two key support staff: Anna Golden, who was appointed sales introducer, and Cath Kearney, who has taken up the role of commercial account handler.

Howden Broking Group
Stuart Corney has joined Howden Broking Group as director for claims. He arrives from JLT, where he was a partner within the financial risks claims division.
He has more than 20 years’ claims experience, and has supported wholesale and retail clients in the UK and internationally. He can be contacted on stuart.corney@howdengroup.com and 0207 648 7201.

Insurance Claims Accommodation Bureau
The Insurance Claims Accommodation Bureau has appointed Tim Allsopp as its finance head. Allsopp joins the insurance market alternative accommodation provider having previously worked as a financial controller for A Fulton and Universal Aviation.

MGB Insurance Brokers
MGB Insurance Brokers has named the former director of wholesale professional indemnity broker Dickson Manchester & Co as a non‑executive director. Mike Dickson joins the firm – which was recently acquired by Manchester Underwriting – after having worked to launch Dickson Manchester with Charles Manchester. The broker has also recruited Pat Boreham as broker development and marketing manager. Boreham brings more than 20 years of experience from positions at firms including Nelson Hurst, Alexander Forbes and Prime Professions.

Law firms

Berrymans Lace Mawer
Insurer law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer has boosted its London market team with the appointment of Kennedys’ Caroline Berens. Berens qualified as a solicitor in 1991 and has a broad spectrum of experience in insurance policy disputes and coverage, together with general liability claims . She predominantly represents large composite insurers and Lloyd’s syndicates. She is the latest recruit to BLM’s EC3 office, which launched in September 2013 as a response to a material increase in work from the London market.