Aviva and Specialty MGA have moved to strengthen their market positions through senior appointments targeting regional expansion and niche underwriting capabilities.
Aviva has tapped Kerry Myles (pictured above, left) to lead its reconfigured South East region as branch manager, marking the latest step in the insurer's strategy to deepen its regional presence across Britain.
Myles, who joins from insurance broker Gallagher on March 16, will oversee operations across a newly expanded territory that reflects the region's growth trajectory.
The appointment sees Myles transition from her role as regional head of client service and operations at Gallagher, bringing expertise honed through branch manager and regional leadership positions at both Gallagher and Allianz across the South East.
Myles will report to Jake Algar, head of trading for London and South East, stepping into shoes vacated by Alison Coleman, who managed the region on an interim basis following restructuring.
The South East region now encompasses three distinct areas: Kent, Sussex, and Surrey; Southampton; and Thames Valley, a configuration designed to provide more localised decision-making and market responsiveness.
Separately, Specialty MGA has brought in Neil Tayler (pictured above, right) as senior underwriter with a remit to build out its accident and health book from the ground up.
Tayler arrives with three decades of insurance market experience spanning consumer and corporate schemes, including personal accident, mortgage indemnity, and creditor protection products.
His tenure includes nearly 10 years at Canopius, where he specialised in packaging A&H products for distribution through non-traditional channels, alongside experience in the managing general agent sector.
At Specialty MGA, which operates under the MNK Group umbrella, Tayler has been given entrepreneurial latitude to develop the A&H portfolio with an eye toward broker relationships and underserved market niches.
The move aligns with MNK Group's broader push to expand capacity and product offerings across specialist lines. The London-based group earlier this month launched a new operation in Brazil, which will provide re/insurance solutions to domestic and multinational clients.
