Digital broker appoints ex-Marsh leader as interim chief executive

Superscript has promoted its chief commercial officer Christopher Barclay to interim chief executive, Insurance Times can reveal.

Barclay succeeds Cameron Shearer, who has decided to step down from the top boss role at the digital broker.

Shearer will remain at Superscript until early May, supporting Barclay in his transition to interim chief executive.

Barclay joined the firm 18 months ago and has worked closely with Shearer, who founded the business along with chief underwriting officer Ben Rose.

Since joining, the business has achieved 50% year-on-year growth and surpassed its gross written premium (GWP) target by 140%.

Before Superscript, Barclay was managing director of affinity and partnerships at Marsh, with him leading the development of innovative risk propositions globally.

“When I joined Superscript, I was very impressed by the company’s incredible talent, its innovative approach and the real opportunity it presents for the market,” Barclay said.

”Over the last 18 months, working alongside Shearer and Rose, I have seen firsthand the incredible job they have done in building a forward-thinking, established business that’s genuinely disrupting the commercial insurance space.

“I am excited for Shearer as he embarks on his next chapter.

“In the meantime, Superscript’s mission remains as bold as ever, to become a global leader in SME insurance and a trusted advisor for our specialist clients, ensuring businesses have the right cover at every stage of their journey. That’s our focus as we move into this next phase of growth.”

‘Right moment’

Since helping found Superscript 10 years ago, Shearer has helped the firm achieve key accreditations, including becoming a Lloyd’s of London broker and earning B Corp certification.

He said that “while stepping away is never easy, this feels like the right moment – for both me and the business”.

He added: “I’ve been extremely grateful to work alongside Barclay and Rose, who will continue to drive Superscript forward. I know the company is in great hands and I have no doubt that the team will take it to even greater heights in the years to come.

“Over the past decade, we’ve achieved so much – scaling the business, driving industry-first innovation and earning recognition through key accreditations and awards.

“We’ve built strong partnerships, developed cutting-edge technology and established Superscript as a leader in the space. The company is in an incredibly strong position, with a fantastic team and exciting opportunities ahead.”