Specialty insurer IQUW will be hoping to fly high after the launch of a new aviation portfolio.

Launching with immediate effect after approval from Lloyd’s, it will consist of a hull and liability account for second and third tier airlines, as well as a general aviation account that addresses commercial fixed wing and rotor fleets. Both will write business around the world, with the exception of the USA.

The portfolio will be headed by lead aviation underwriter Simon Herring who has spent more than 30 years in the aviation industry with companies such as Murray Lawrence and Partners, Cincinnati Global, Sedgwick and Marsh.

According to Herring, the intention is to become a lead market for brokers.

“I am delighted to join IQUW to launch their new Aviation portfolio and am looking forward to quickly developing our proposition to become a lead market for brokers through 2022,” he said.

Meanwhile, interim active underwriter David Message noted his own joy at the appointment.

“Simon joins IQUW with a wealth of experience and I am thrilled to welcome him to IQUW to launch our aviation portfolio which continues to execute on our strategy to build a diverse, multi-line (re)insurance company that intelligently uses data to improve our decision making,” he said.