QBE merges London teams

QBE has merged its direct and reinsurance personal accident (PA) teams to create a single London market unit.

The new unit will have a combined GWP of £45m and will operate out of Lloyd’s.

Tthe merged team is to be headed up by Peter Wilkins, portfolio manager and comprises of five underwriters, working across the books of business.

Each underwriter has the authority to write both insurance (Syndicate 2000) and reinsurance (Syndicate 566) risks.

Wilkins reports directly to Jonathan Parry, managing director reinsurance & specialist, QBE European Operations.

The team comprises of Dennis Matthews, senior underwriter, three further underwriters, Lucy Dexter, Anthony Ruddell and John Milne, and Tom Marsden as assistant underwriter.

Parry said: “Bringing together our direct and reinsurance PA skills within one London market-focussed team makes complete sense. In doing so, we are making it easier for brokers to do business with us and are better utilising the combined experience and expertise of a larger team.”

QBE said it also has ambitious plans to develop its non-Lloyd’s market personal accident business. This will be managed by Mark Gibson, senior underwriter and his team, focussing on developing schemes, affinity and corporate risks for non-Lloyd’s, UK Regional and European Markets.

Graeme Rayner, managing director for commercial business insurance at QBE, said: “Creating distinct propositions for both our Lloyd’s business and the UK regional and European territory gives us the opportunity us to provide the best levels of service and response to the different needs of our brokers in these markets, and opens up exciting growth opportunities for QBE.”