Hamilton, Bermuda-based startup Pinion Insurance has appointed Chris Jones (pictured) as group financial officer as it continues to build out its senior leadership team in the specialty market.
The newly formed, technology‑enabled specialty insurer said the appointment is effective immediately.
Jones, who will be based in London, joins chief executive officer Neil McConachie, group chief underwriting officer Philip Vandoninck and group chief technology officer Laura Baird on Pinion’s executive committee.
Jones brings more than 30 years’ experience in finance and accountancy. He was previously UK chief financial officer at Aspen Insurance Group, a global specialty insurance and reinsurance company known for underwriting complex and emerging risks across property, casualty and specialty lines.
Aspen has been investing in digital transformation and automation in claims and policy management to improve efficiency, reduce costs and enhance reporting – experience likely to be relevant to a technology‑enabled start‑up such as Pinion.
Before Aspen, Jones held senior finance roles at Beazley Furlonge and Liberty Syndicates. Beazley has been at the forefront of London market innovation around emerging and intangible risks, including cyber and changing workplace exposures. Liberty’s specialty business, now Liberty Specialty Markets, forms part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group and writes a broad portfolio of commercial and specialty risks from London and other hubs.
Jones began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he qualified as a chartered accountant.
Jones’s appointment comes as specialty carriers in London and Bermuda navigate a changing market environment. Global commercial insurance rates fell by 2% in the fourth quarter of 2024, the second consecutive quarterly decline after seven years of rate increases, according to Marsh’s Global Insurance Market Index.
At the same time, market analysis has pointed to emerging pressures on the London market from climate risk, cyber threats and evolving governance expectations, with the International Underwriting Association highlighting “emerging threats in 2026” for London market participants.
Against that backdrop, Pinion’s proposition as a technology‑enabled specialty platform backed from Bermuda reflects a broader trend of new entrants looking to combine London market underwriting expertise with leaner operating models and more modern systems.
The hire follows last month’s appointment of Kyle Selvig as US chief underwriting officer, as Pinion continues to assemble its underwriting and finance leadership across key geographies.
