Global specialty re/insurance group  Chaucer has hired a new head of marine and energy from McGill and Partners.

Simon Schnorr will assume the responsibility of marine and energy line from Kelan Hunt in a revised organisational structure where Hunt will place greater emphasis on his role as active underwriter of Syndicate 1084.

Schnorr joins from McGill and Partners, where he was most recently a partner in the reinsurance team, focussing on developing marine and energy opportunities within the protection and indemnity and specialist marine provider sectors.

He has over 25 years of market experience, including leadership positions at Aon and StarStone, where he served as CEO of its managing agency and global head of marine, offshore energy and aviation.

In his new role, Schnorr will help boost Chaucer’s commitments to its marine and energy insurance classes, oversee the delivery of strategy and portfolio management and will report to Xamira Groves, group head of insurance.

Groves said: “Simon’s appointment continues our investment in Marine and Energy, two of our core insurance divisions, adding weight to our market leading proposition.”

Nicola Stacey, chief underwriting officer, added: “We’re delighted to welcome Simon to Chaucer. His strong record of successful business and product development, as well as strategic planning, will be invaluable as we look to grow our global market share.”

Schnorr commented: “I’m greatly looking forward to taking on this new role as Head of Marine & Energy and to working alongside the firm’s extremely talented individuals in driving the business forward.”

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