QBE poaches Ace and Catlin execs

QBE European Operations has made two new appointments to its international casualty team.

Stuart Brown will join in March 2015 as portfolio manager and will be responsible for the company’s Canadian and Middle East general liability account.

Brown has over 15 years’ experience in casualty, gained at AIG and at Ace European Group. He joins from Ace where he most recently held senior casualty underwriting and risk positions and will report to Neila Buurman, director of international casualty, Middle East & Canada.

Lavinia Johnson will take up her position in June 2015 as portfolio manager for QBE’s rest of the world account.

Johnson has close to 20 years’ experience in international casualty underwriting and joins from Catlin where she was most recently class underwriter. She will report to Mike Reid who joins QBE as head of international casualty in April 2015.

In November 2014, QBE announced that Mike Reid would be leaving Brit to take up the position of head of international casualty. Paula MacKenzie and Sarah Yuile joined the team in January respectively as senior underwriters, bringing specific experience of the Latin American and Canadian markets.

Newly promoted Charlie Harcus and Nick Gilkes have moved into their respective roles of portfolio manager Latin America and senior underwriter.

Buurman said: “I am delighted that Stuart and Lavinia will be joining the team. They both have a wealth of casualty experience and will help to further cement our position as the market leader, delivering excellent service to both our brokers and clients.”