UK and international specialty re/insurance markets continue to see a steady flow of senior appointments across underwriting, technology and market bodies, reflecting ongoing investment in digital capability, professional development and niche product expansion.
Recent moves span MGAs, Lloyd’s syndicates, marine and financial lines specialists, and industry associations.
HIVE Underwriters names new CTO
Independent specialty MGA HIVE Underwriters has appointed London Market technology specialist George Stylli (pictured, left) as chief technology officer.
Stylli brings almost 20 years’ experience in technology leadership roles across Lloyd’s managing agencies, including positions as head of engineering and head of business solutions. Over his career, he has led the build‑out of scalable platforms, modernised underwriting workflows and delivered technology‑enabled change across multiple specialty classes.
Commenting on his role, Stylli said HIVE’s decision to put “technology, data, and intelligent automation at the heart of underwriting and exposure management” was a key attraction, adding that his priority is to build an “agent‑first platform” that integrates cleanly with market systems and uses AI and advanced analytics to support faster, more informed risk selection.
MGAA hires Twohill to lead expanded learning and development programme
The Managing General Agents’ Association (MGAA) has appointed Manveen Twohill (pictured, center) as learning & development manager as it gears up to expand its education and insight offering for UK MGAs in 2026.
Twohill joins from Gallagher Re, where she was learning & development global partner and instructional designer, designing and delivering training for insurance and reinsurance professionals worldwide.
In her new role, she will lead the MGAA’s refreshed Programme of Learning and Insights (POLI), bringing together in‑person and virtual sessions aimed at educating, informing and connecting the MGA market around key technical, regulatory and business issues. She will also take a lead in member engagement for a defined segment of MGAA firms, helping them make fuller use of their membership to support strategic objectives.
British Marine appoints Inman to lead P&I portfolio
British Marine, part of QBE Insurance Group, has named Richard Inman (pictured, right) as portfolio manager, British Marine P&I.
Inman will be responsible for delivering the planned protection and indemnity (P&I) underwriting result and shaping strategy across the portfolio, including risk selection and product development.
He joins from Tindall Riley & Co., managers of the Britannia P&I Club, where he worked as associate director of underwriting, across specialist mutual business in London and, more recently, Hong Kong. He brings more than 13 years’ experience in marine liability and P&I underwriting.
Simon Lascelles, director of marine for QBE European Operations International Markets, said Inman has a “proven track record in technical underwriting, customer engagement and managing complex policies around the world”, and that his appointment is intended to help shape the “next phase of growth” for British Marine’s P&I book.
Specialty MGA strengthens D&O team with senior hire
Specialty MGA, the MGA platform within MNK Group, has expanded its financial lines capability with the appointment of Davood Khalaghizadeh (pictured immediately above) as senior underwriter for Directors and Officers (D&O) business.
Khalaghizadeh brings extensive experience from roles at AIG, QBE and CV Starr, where he managed the D&O portfolio, as well as at Aspen and Volante. His background spans both smaller lines and high excess layers, with a strong reinsurance focus and exposure to specialist risk markets across multiple territories.
In his new position, he will help build out Specialty MGA’s commercial D&O presence and related financial lines products, overseeing a multi‑territory book, supporting the group’s reinsurance strategy and contributing to future direct insurance opportunities. The appointment is part of MNK Group’s bid to broaden its footprint and enhance its underwriting strength in the D&O segment.
AEGIS London creates CIO role
AEGIS London has created the role of chief information officer and appointed technology leader Neil Bayles (pictured immediately above) to the position, as the Lloyd’s syndicate continues to invest in digital, data and AI.
As CIO, Bayles will be responsible for developing and executing AEGIS London’s IT strategy in support of its wider corporate objectives. The remit includes using technology to enhance service quality and capitalising on new tools and platforms to strengthen the syndicate’s competitive position in the London market. He will report to COO Marianne Harvey.
Bayles said joining an organisation that “places digital and data as key pillars of its strategy” was a major draw and that he aims to develop a “market‑leading IT strategy” aligned with the firm’s broader ambitions.
Rokstone adds underwriter to build out international casualty team
Rokstone has appointed Sophie Elwood (pictured immediately above) as a class underwriter in its international casualty division, further deepening the experience of its expanding global casualty team.
Elwood joins from Convex, where she focused on international casualty and built a track record in underwriting complex cross‑border risks.
She has 13 years’ market experience and will be based in the UK, working closely with portfolio manager Sam Wylie as the division scales.
