NIG poaches regional underwriting bosses from rival insurers

NIG has made seven senior underwriting appointments to spearhead a "major push" for regional SME business.

The insurer's new area underwriting managers will allow it to devolve more underwriting decision making to its regional centres of excellence.

They will be responsible for strengthening relationships with brokers and will report to NIG's head of regional underwriting Steve Symonds.

Steve Williams joins NIG from AXA and has been appointed area underwriting manager for the North West and Scotland.

Cath Timberlake joins NIG from Hiscox where she was previosuly North of England area manager. She has been appointed Area Underwriting Manager for the North East and will be based in Leeds.

Martin Kerrison joins NIG from Travelers where he was regional underwriting manager. He will be underwriting manager for the midlands and will be based in Birmingham.

Marcus Bale joined RBS Insurance as underwriting manager for SME business from RSA. He has been appointed area underwriting manager for NIG’s Thames Valley and East Anglia area and will be based in Watford

Simon Parry moved to NIG as a regional technical underwriter in 2006. He has been appointed area underwriting manager for NIG’s South East area and will be based in Maidstone.

Caroline Muir moved to NIG in 2001 and has now been appointed area underwriting manager for Wales and the West of England, based in Bristol.

Mark Williams joined NIG following their take over of Hallmark in 1998. He becomes underwriting manager for NIG’s London Area and will work from the Fenchurch Street and City Road offices.

Jon Greenwood, managing director, commercial and broker, RBS Insurance said: “We know from talking to brokers that having instant access to underwriting decision makers is one of the most important factors when choosing an insurer.

"We have invested heavily in our seven regional Centres of Excellence in terms of training and recruitment to ensure our underwriters are better qualified, more knowledgeable and will be able to give faster decisions.

"Our Area Underwriting Managers are some of the best people in the business and will play a vital role in delivering NIG’s ambition to double our share of the SME market and become a top three SME insurer.”