The UK insurance sector has reported a fresh wave of senior appointments across trade representation, broking, investment and specialist underwriting, reflecting continued activity in leadership ranks and ongoing focus on growth in key product lines.
BPL has appointed Emilia Levett (pictured, left) as chief operating officer, as the London-based intermediary looks to support its next phase of expansion.
Levett joins from WTW, where she was most recently head of strategy and execution for Global Direct & Facultative, and previously chief of staff in the same business.
At BPL, she will work across the global business to support strategic priorities, including the use of data, artificial intelligence and technology solutions, and the development of high‑performing teams.
The appointment follows BPL’s expansion into Japan and a minority investment from Preservation Capital Partners.
L&G has named former PIC investment chief Rob Groves (pictured, right) as chief investment officer of its Institutional Retirement business, which is a major player in the global pension risk transfer (PRT) market.
Groves joins from PIC, where he was CIO and an executive committee member responsible for strategy, asset‑liability management and portfolio construction for a portfolio of around £55 billion. He also built a back‑book optimisation capability focused on active portfolio management, capital recycling and disciplined de‑risking.
At L&G, Groves will lead global investment strategy and portfolio management for Institutional Retirement, overseeing a team of about 100 professionals. The portfolio is structured to match long‑term pension liabilities using long‑duration, predictable cashflows, mainly in public credit, with additional allocations to investment‑grade private credit, sovereign and sovereign‑like bonds and a smaller direct property book.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has confirmed four new appointments to its board, strengthening the trade body’s representation across retail, life, pensions and health.
Laura Mason, CEO of Retail, Legal & General (L&G), joins as a board member after the firm became an ABI member earlier this year. Chris Rash, CEO, AIG UK; Dominic Veney, interim CEO at Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC), and Richard Washington, CEO of Bupa UK Insurance, have been appointed to fill existing seats.
The ABI board provides oversight of major political, regulatory and consumer issues affecting the sector and leads strategic discussions that shape the organisation's priorities and business plan.
Specialist managing general agent ARTes Specialty has appointed Martin Parker as head of construction, as it builds out a new division focused on SME and mid‑market risks in the construction and engineering sectors.
Parker brings more than 22 years of experience in construction and engineering insurance. He was previously head of construction at Markel UK and spent 19 years at HSB Engineering Insurance in senior roles including head of digital trading, with more than 18 years dedicated to portfolio management.
At ARTes, he will lead the development of a construction offering positioned around disciplined technical underwriting, long‑term pricing consistency and a strong e‑trade focus.
The MGA plans to provide digital capability across its construction products, while maintaining direct access to experienced underwriters for brokers.
