Tom Squires (pictured) is taking on a new challenge at AEGIS London.

The former deputy head of casualty has assumed the freshly created role of digital trading head amid the area’s “strategic importance” to the Lloyd’s managing agency. A particular focus is being placed on the firm’s online quote-and-bind platform called OPAL (Online Platform Aegis London), which came to life in April 2016.

“We are investing in digital trading across the piece and OPAL is now at the stage where it requires full-time operational leadership,” noted innovation and corporate development director John Chambers.

“Tom has been actively involved in the development of our digital strategy and is well placed to take over the challenge of driving OPAL forward, both expanding existing products but also adding more strategic partners, territories, and risk classes.”

Launched with the goal of bringing US and other international SME business into the London insurance market, OPAL has produced around 40,000 quotes in the past 18 months. During the same period it bound 9,000 risks at average values of under US$100,000.

“We want to improve our systems, make more effective use of the datasets we are building, and ensure that the distribution chain bringing smaller risks into the London market is as efficient as possible,” said Squires, who is “delighted to take a more active role” in developing AEGIS London’s digital offering.

The new head added that he looks forward to building the team further in the coming 12 months.