UK and European insurance firms have announced a series of senior appointments and promotions across claims, strategy and data, distribution, and broking.
QBE has promoted Virginie Massé (pictured above, left) to head of European claims, effective September 1. Massé, who joined the business two years ago as claims manager for France, will remain based in Paris and report to Mike East, claims director at QBE European operations.
She has 25 years’ experience in claims, including roles as executive claims director at AIG and operations director at the Fonds de Garantie, the French body that compensates victims of road traffic accidents and terrorism.
QBE has also recently expanded its European risk services through a partnership with Matrix iQ to provide fleet clients with real-time driver behaviour, claims trends and operational risk visibility, integrating the tool with existing telematics and adding ESG metrics such as emissions tracking.
Reassured has named Beth Whelan (pictured above, right) chief strategy & data officer. Whelan will report to chief executive officer Mark Townsend and join the company’s executive leadership team.
Her remit includes shaping long-term strategic planning, embedding data-driven decision-making in day-to-day operations, and supporting a product-led organisation. She is responsible for enhancing the firm’s data and artificial intelligence capabilities in both technology and people, with the aim of improving decision-making, predictive insights and personalising services for customers and insurer partners.
Whelan will lead Reassured’s change and data science functions. She brings over 20 years of financial services experience, having previously served as a contractor at Reassured in the role of data and transformation director and earlier as chief strategy and transformation officer at TDX Group, an Equifax company.
Reassured reinforced its senior bench in late 2024 by appointing Philip Byrne as chief risk and compliance officer, reporting to the CEO. Byrne, previously at Markerstudy Group and BGL Insurance, is tasked with strengthening governance and risk management as the broker continues to invest in technology and multi-channel digital capabilities.
Prestige Underwriting has promoted Tim Baxter to business development and relationship director, following regulatory approval from the Financial Conduct Authority.
Baxter, who joined the firm in 2014, has more than 25 years’ insurance experience spanning placement, claims and distribution. He will lead broker engagement and distribution strategy across Great Britain and Ireland, with a mandate to deepen partnerships, enhance the broker experience and support sustainable, profitable growth.
Separately, Prestige Underwriting broadened distribution through a partnership with Ardonagh Advisory, becoming a preferred non-standard household partner across networks including Bravo, Ethos Broking and Towergate.
The arrangement opens access to Coverall non-standard household, short-term unoccupied property, thatched home, and non-standard motor and commercial vehicle products for brokers handling complex risks, with survey data indicating 79% of brokers expect non-standard market growth.
Specialist underwriting agency Doe and Emuss has appointed John Watmough as Underwriter and Director of Broking.
Based in London, Watmough will focus on strengthening the firm’s broking and underwriting capabilities and broadening its client offering. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the London insurance market and experience with the North American insurance landscape.
What are your thoughts on this story? Please feel free to share your comments below.
