QBE appoints two to launch liability product

QBE has appointed two staff to launch an environmental impairment liability product.

QBE has appointed Wayne Harrington as portfolio manager. Previously Harrington was ACE UK & Ireland manager for environmental risk.

Ellie Merkin has joined ACE as assistant underwriter after leaving Watts Group, where she was an environmental consultant.

The new product will be offered on a stand-alone and bolt-on basis, with up to $30m (£18.8M) coverage per loss. It will be written from QBE’s UK and Lloyd’s operations.

An extra underwriter will be appointed to join Harrington and Merkin before the end of the year.

QBE chief underwriting officer property, casualty and motor Ash Bathia said: “We are very excited about taking this product to the market and particularly to have the combination of the experience and underwriting skill of Wayne and the technical expertise of Ellie.”