The Fidelis Partnership (TFP) has appointed Oliver Dlugosch (pictured above) as group head of aviation, where he will be responsible for the continued development of TFP’s specialty offerings in aviation and space.
He will report to Richard Coulson, deputy group CUO and CEO of Insurance at TFP. He is set to join the company in December and will be based in London.
Dlugosch brings more than 25 years of underwriting experience in commercial insurance and reinsurance, with a focus on aviation, major risks, general aviation, and space. He joins TFP after nearly two decades at Swiss Re, where he held several senior underwriting roles, most recently as head of aerospace for Swiss Re Corporate Solutions.
He began his insurance career at GE Insurance Solutions in 1997 and later served as head of aviation direct airlines & manufacturers.
Dlugosch has led underwriting teams in multiple global markets, including London, Munich, Zurich, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. In June, he completed a two-year term as president of the International Union of Aerospace Insurers (IUAI) and served on the IUAI’s Executive Council for over a decade.
“Against a backdrop of strong projected market growth as well as increasing risk complexity and volatility, clients need nimble, innovative and high-conviction underwriting more than ever. With our differentiated aviation and aerospace capabilities, complemented by specialist aviation finance and credit risk insurance through our Pine Walk MGA Itasca, TFP is exceptionally well placed to serve this market,” Coulson said.
The appointment comes at a time when the aviation insurance sector is responding to renewed concerns about airline safety, following a series of high-profile incidents in early 2025. These events have prompted insurers and reinsurers to closely monitor the potential impact on rates and market conditions, with ongoing litigation related to aircraft leasing disputes from the Russia-Ukraine conflict also influencing the sector’s outlook.
Read more: Aviation insurance sending mixed signals
The aviation insurance sector is also seeing significant growth in premium volumes, with gross written premiums reaching a 20-year high in 2024 and exceeding US$8 billion. Airlines and general aviation accounted for the majority of this growth, a trend expected to continue as air traffic and demand for coverage remain strong.
Alongside headline events, the sector is contending with the rising cost of smaller, attritional claims. These claims, which are typically absorbed before reinsurance coverage applies, are gradually eroding insurer margins. If this trend continues, it could lead to stricter underwriting standards and further changes in how risk is managed across the aviation insurance market.
