BMS appoints group chief executive officer

BMS Associates has appointed Dane Douetil as its new group chief executive officer.

BMS Associates is the parent company of BMS Group, its UK broking entity; of BMS Intermediaries, its US broking arm; and of Pioneer Underwriting, its underwriting platform.

Douetil, who is expected to commence his role in early September, will lead the company in the second phase of its development strategy.

Previously chief executive officer of Brit Insurance Holdings, he has more than 30 years of industry experience, covering broking and underwriting in insurance and reinsurance as well as in retail and wholesale environments.

Prior to restructuring Benfield Re, which became Brit Insurance, Douetil was a founding shareholder and director of specialist insurance broker Special Risk Services, a business which was successfully transformed from a start-up to a highly profitable enterprise and sold to Minets (now Aon).

“We are delighted to welcome Dane into his leadership role with us,” said Christopher Hopton, chairman of BMS Associates. “He will build on the strong foundations already in place at BMS, leading the growth of our broking platform and the further development of Pioneer Underwriting. Dane’s experience as a leader in both broking and underwriting will be great assets for BMS. With his entrepreneurial track record of building successful businesses and his reputation, particularly in Lloyd’s and internationally, Dane’s appointment shows that we are determined to carry through our growth plans to success, and continue to deliver outstanding service to our clients.”

Douetil, who began his career at Willis, has deep roots in Lloyd’s and the London markets, having previously been chairman of the Lloyd’s Market Association and of the London Market Reform Group. In 2007, he was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in recognition of the reform work undertaken in the UK insurance market.

“Leading a company of the calibre and scope of BMS is a very exciting prospect,” he said. “BMS is an intriguing and compelling proposition with significant growth potential. It will be refreshing to return to my roots as a broker and combine this with my underwriting experience in a leadership role here at BMS. This is a rare opportunity in the market and one that is a great marriage of my experience and BMS’s strategy of developing both its broking and underwriting platforms.”