Descartes Underwriting and West of England P&I have announced senior appointments to support expansion and product development across European markets.
Descartes Underwriting has expanded the responsibilities of commercial director Juan Maria Marqués Domenech (pictured above, left) to cover Central Europe in addition to Iberia.
The parametric reinsurance solutions provider has also appointed Felix Dalheimer (pictured above, right) as business developer for Germany and Austria.
Dalheimer joins Descartes Underwriting from Chubb, where he served as an underwriter for German risks. He previously held technical roles in catastrophe analysis at R+V Re in Wiesbaden, where he developed expertise in natural catastrophe risks and their financial impacts.
The appointments support Descartes Underwriting's plans to accelerate growth and deepen client and broker relationships in Germany and Austria. Dalheimer will report to Marqués Domenech, a senior leader within the EMEA organisation overseen by Blanca Berruguete, Head of EMEA Distribution & Client Management.
The expansion arrives following a significant development for the company’s climate-related solutions. In October, Descartes Underwriting announced that it had joined the International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF) as a supporting member.
West of England P&I has appointed Alexis Wildman as head of products, reporting to chief underwriting officer Bart Mertens. The appointment is part of the club's efforts to develop its product offering in response to evolving maritime industry needs.
Wildman succeeds Richard Turner, who will retire later this year following a structured handover period. Turner has been involved in developing West of England P&I's product capability and diversification strategy.
In her new role, Wildman will oversee West of England P&I's diversified product portfolio and work with the Club's managing general agent partners. This includes Nordic Marine Insurance, which was fully acquired by the Club in April 2025 and provides fixed premium covers such as Delay, Primary Loss of Earnings, Hull, and Loss of Hire.
Wildman brings more than two decades of experience in marine insurance, with a background in underwriting, portfolio management, and product leadership across international markets. She joins from Ki Insurance and has previously held senior roles at RSA and Codan, including leadership responsibility for marine operations in the Nordic region.
The appointment follows the announcement of Bart Mertens as chief underwriting officer in early 2025, succeeding Simon Parrott.
