MS Amlin has appointed Laura Hobern (pictured) as chief actuary and created a new underwriting portfolio director role for departing chief actuary Paul Lucas. Both changes take effect as the Lloyd's global (re)insurer continues reshaping its executive team under chief executive Christiern Dart.
Hobern will join in Q4 2026, subject to regulatory approval, and will report to chief financial officer Jessie Burrows. She will oversee all actuarial operations at MS Amlin, with responsibility for reserving and pricing.
Hobern joins from consultancy Lane Clark & Peacock (LCP), where she is a partner advising insurance boards and executive teams on actuarial, risk, and strategy. She won the Actuary of the Year award at the 2024 Women in Insurance Awards.
Hobern also serves as deputy chair of the London Market Actuaries' Group and sits on the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries' General Insurance Board.
Lucas, meanwhile, moves into the newly created underwriting portfolio director role and will report to chief underwriting officer Martin Burke. He will draw on insight from across the business to shape MS Amlin's underwriting appetite, portfolio strategy, and capital allocation decisions.
The new role formalises a direct link between actuarial intelligence and underwriting decision-making. Lloyd's has identified proactive portfolio management as a priority oversight area for 2026, as softer market conditions increase pressure on underwriting margins across the market.
The dual appointment follows two executive hires announced in June: Kirsten Mitchell-Wallace as chief risk officer and Phil Young as chief information officer. Dart has been restructuring the leadership team since taking the helm in January 2026.
Chief financial officer Jessie Burrows said Hobern's consulting background would support the practical application of actuarial expertise within the business. "Having advised boards and executive teams across the insurance market, she understands how actuarial insight can support better business decisions and stronger performance," Burrows said.
Burrows said both Hobern and Lucas would "play an important role in helping us balance growth with discipline, ensuring we continue to make informed decisions that support financial resilience and sustainable profitability."
The appointments come as MS Amlin builds on three consecutive years of combined ratio improvement. The carrier reported a 79.9% rise in full-year profit after tax to £268 million for 2025, with net premium written rising 26.9% to £1.884 billion. Its combined operating ratio improved to 83% from 86.2% in 2024.
