Hiscox chair Bloomer among those missing after yacht sinks off coast of Sicily

Hiscox chair Jonathan Bloomer is missing after a yacht sank off the coast of Sicily.

The yacht capsized on Monday following heavy thunderstoms near the city of Palmero.

A search and rescue mission is underway and divers are attempting to reach the yacht, which is 50 metres underwater.

Hiscox chief executive Aki Hussain confirmed that Bloomer and his wife were among those missing.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic event,” Hussain said in a statement sent to Insurance Times.

“Our thoughts are with all those affected, in particular our chair, Jonathan Bloomer, and his wife Judy, who are among the missing, and with their family as they await further news from this terrible situation.”

Experience

Hiscox appointed Bloomer, who is also the chairman at Morgan Stanley, back in 2023.

He began his career in insurance in 1995 at Prudential, where he served as chief financial officer and then chief executive officer, before becoming an operating partner at US private equity and alternative investor Cerberus Capital Management until 2012.

He also served as chair of European investor and asset manager Arrow Global Group and was the senior independent director at Hargreaves Lansdown.

A spokesperson from Morgan Stanley told the BBC: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragedy.

“Our thoughts are with all those affected, in particular the Bloomer family, as we all wait for further news from this terrible situation.”