There is a new chairman of the Lloyd’s Market Association’s (LMA) Worldwide Property Panel, in the form of Dean Pitts (pictured).

Currently the managing director of the property open market at Markel, Pitts moves into the LMA role to replace outgoing chair Nick Jones, of Apollo. He will be joined on the panel by several newcomers - AmTrust’s Mark Abrahams, Michael Williams of Hiscox and Rhys Thomas of XL Catlin – as well as re-elected members Simon Clegg of Atrium and Derek Hanson from Sompo Canopius. All should serve three-year terms.  

In a release announcing the appointment, it was outlined that the panel will focus on engaging with the Placing Platform Limited project team – the London market’s electronic pricing platform solution - and brokers to ensure the platform provides efficiencies to the underwriting process.

“I am pleased to have been appointed to chair the LMA’s Worldwide Property Business Panel,” said Pitts who will take up the role immediately and also continue at Markel. “I look forward to advancing the Panel’s objectives for the benefit of the property underwriting market at Lloyd’s. I would also like to thank Nick Jones for his work as Chairman in 2017.”

Other key topics that Pitts and the board will look to target during the year include cyber exposures and an analysis of the impact of catastrophe losses and the 2017 hurricanes.