Aviva expands financial lines team as it looks to ‘rebuild and rebrand’ offering

Aviva has announced a raft of new hires as it looks to “rebuild and rebrand” its financial lines offering across the UK.

The insurer said it had further plans for growth this year and felt this would be achieved by investing in more talent.

The department will be headed up by Ramesh Singh, who joined Aviva as underwriting director of financial lines in December 2023.

Singh brings 25 years’ experience of corporate experience from a number of international carriers, including Chubb, Aig, Axa XL and CNA Hardy.

“I’m delighted that we’re building bench strength and expertise in our dedicated financial lines team,” Singh said.

“This fits with our ambition to rebuild and rebrand Aviva’s financial lines offering, as we continue our commitment to this important part of the Aviva portfolio.”

New hires

Among the new hires are Richard Belsey, who will join Aviva as head of M&A underwriting this summer.

He brings 20 years’ professional experience as a corporate lawyer, M&A insurance underwriter and M&A insurance broker.

In addition, Samantha Shean will join Aviva next week as head of financial institutions (FI) – she joins after 12 years at Axis Capital, where she most recently served as head of FI.

Patrick Waters, meanwhile, joins Aviva as underwriting manager for FI in June and will report to Shean.

He has over 12 years’ experience in the insurance industry, originating with financial lines claims handling with Chubb and Canopius.

And Felix Cofie will join Aviva in July as underwriting manager in the professional indemnity (PI) team.

Cofie joins Aviva from Aspen and brings 15 years of PI underwriting experience from a range of Lloyds and company markets.

In his role as underwriting manager, he will assist in the development and implementation of the insurer’s underwriting strategy, as well as working with brokers to build new and existing business.

Scotland

Meanwhile, Aviva said it was extending into Scotland as the insurer invests into building a new financial lines underwriting team in Glasgow.

Currently, the insurer has David Jenkins working as its senior financial lines underwriter for Scotland, while Luisa O’Donnell holds the role of financial lines underwriter.

Aviva said that plans were in place to recruit further into this team.

“Our focus is to work strategically with our customers and brokers across the UK and the globe,” Singh said.

“Investing into Scotland and further into our London centre of excellence will help us to meet this ambition as we continue to grow.”