QBE appoints Paul Peerdeman to lead marine underwriting in the Netherlands

QBE has named Paul Peerdeman (pictured above) as head of marine underwriting in the Netherlands as the insurer moves to introduce its marine insurance products to the Dutch market.

Peerdeman, who brings more than 35 years of experience in marine insurance, will start the role on August 1 and be based in Amsterdam.

Peerdeman has held several senior positions during his career, including head of marine at ERGO Netherlands, director roles at Aon, underwriting at HDI Gerling, and management posts at Chubb and Allianz.

His appointment will focus on rolling out QBE’s marine cargo and fine art & specie offerings, which are already available in France, the Nordics, and Germany following their respective launches in 2022 and 2023.

QBE’s marine insurance products are aimed at clients involved in domestic and international trade. In a broader context, the Dutch cargo market is recognised as one of the most established and active marine insurance hubs globally.

QBE’s move to build its Dutch branch was part of a wider European expansion plan launched in late 2022. Ahead of the opening, the insurer recruited staff across underwriting, claims, operations, and finance, with a plan to begin writing business from January 2023 once regulatory approval was secured.

The Netherlands operation was set up to provide liability, property, and financial lines solutions to mid-market and large corporates, with distribution handled primarily through intermediaries.

Tania Bensoussan-Arthur, QBE’s marine practice lead for Europe, said that having a locally based marine expert allows the company to combine international capabilities with local market knowledge.

“As international trade is facing increasingly complex challenges, our customers want global expertise combined with local knowledge – and that’s what our European team are keen on delivering,” Bensoussan-Arthur said.

QBE has also recently bolstered its European distribution strategy with the appointment of Maths Stanser as head of distribution for continental markets. Based in Brussels, Stanser is tasked with coordinating broker relationships across France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, and sits on QBE’s European management committee.

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