Potter will oversee the insurer’s UK and Ireland long-tail underwriting strategy across liability, life sciences, motor fleet, and cyber, the company said in a statement. He will report directly to Simon Hunt, interim chief executive officer of HDI.
The appointment comes as Potter transitions from his current role as director of liability, where he shaped the company’s liability underwriting strategy, HDI noted. His promotion follows several senior underwriting appointments across the UK and Ireland operations.
In October 2025, HDI UK & Ireland announced a series of senior executive underwriting appointments, including the elevation of Kate Sutcliffe to chief underwriting officer – short tail and Adam Curran to chief underwriting officer – specialty, each with expanded oversight of their respective lines.
“Tom’s promotion is testament to the impact he has already made within our underwriting organisation,” Hunt said. “His technical expertise, market insight, and collaborative leadership will be invaluable as we continue to enhance our long-tail portfolio and strengthen our client and broker relationships as their partner in transformation.”
Potter joined HDI in September 2025 from AXA XL, where he most recently served as global casualty underwriting manager for UK and Lloyd’s within the global chief underwriting office. He has 15 years of experience across casualty, environmental, construction, and property underwriting.
In his new role, Potter will focus on enhancing HDI’s technical capability and strengthening alignment with its broader underwriting leadership structure, the company said.
HDI Global UK & Ireland, a part of HDI Global, employs more than 5,000 people and generated about €10 billion in gross insurance revenue in 2024, under IFRS 17.
Potter’s promotion comes after the recent announcement of a leadership transition. Stephanie Ogden, who has served as chief executive officer of HDI Global UK & Ireland since 2024, will leave the business on January 31, 2026, to pursue a new role outside HDI. In connection with her departure, Hunt has taken on the role of interim CEO.
