Ascent appoints chief operations officer

Specialist managing general agent (MGA) Ascent Underwriting has appointed Kevin Cleary as chief operations officer (COO).

Cleary has experience in both underwriting compliance and the professional lines market, having previously served at head of international delegated underwriting at The Navigators Group.

Prior to this, he had held senior underwriting positions at Channel Syndicate, Allied World and DUAL Corporate Risks.

Cleary, in addition to his COO role, will be responsible for the development and growth of an international financial lines portfolio, which is part of Ascent’s strategy to build on its cyber business by diversifying into complementary lines utilising product innovation and its online underwriting platform.

David Umbers, chief executive officer of Ascent Underwriting, said: "The recruitment of Kevin is very exciting for Ascent and marks an important time in the development of our business.

“Kevin brings us a wealth of expertise across management and financial lines enabling us to diversify our portfolio, widen our geographical footprint and reflects our focus on the increasingly important compliance aspect of the business.”