Several specialty insurance players have announced senior leadership changes.
Arch Insurance International has appointed James Byford (pictured above, left) as senior contingency underwriter, as the company looks to expand its presence in the growing event risk segment.
With over 14 years of underwriting experience, most recently as lead contingency underwriter at Worldwide Special Risks, Byford is expected to play a key role in strengthening Arch’s capabilities across event cancellation, non-appearance, liability and cyber-linked exposures. His appointment comes at a time of heightened risk awareness in the live events sector, with organisers facing rising premiums and stricter policy terms due to ongoing uncertainty around weather, geopolitical unrest, and high-profile cancellations.
Nexus Group has appointed Eamonn Long (pictured above, right) as chief underwriting officer for its Alternative Risk Transfer (ART) business, as the MGA sharpens its focus on complex, multi-year risk solutions amid growing demand for capital-efficient cover.
His arrival follows Nexus’s launch of its ART unit in December 2024, led by Christof Bentele, president of Nexus Specialty Casualty. The unit focuses on structured re/insurance across property, liability, and multi-line business.
At Ecclesiastical Insurance, Neil McGeachie has become UK chief operating officer, joining from Aspen Insurance Group during what the specialist insurer describes as a period of “ambitious growth.”
Richard Coleman, managing director of Ecclesiastical, said McGeachie’s appointment aligns with broader plans to “provide the best possible outcomes for customers and broker partners.”
West of England P&I Club has announced the retirement of Richard Macnamara after 43 years with the marine mutual.
A pivotal figure in expanding West’s presence in Asia, Macnamara was instrumental in developing the Club’s Hong Kong office into a regional underwriting and claims hub, overseeing a portfolio that now accounts for 40% of the Club’s gross premium income.
Having joined West in 1982, Macnamara relocated to Hong Kong in the 1990s and later served as a senior advisor to support the transition to new local leadership under CEO Cai Xuanlun.
West CEO Tom Bowsher called Macnamara “a pivotal figure in shaping West’s success,” while Tony Paulson, head of Asia, praised his “service ethic and commitment to building strong relationships.”
