Pen Underwriting bolsters Midlands business with Chubb hire

Pen Underwriting, a subsidiary of insurance broker Arthur J Gallagher, has appointed James Palmer as senior underwriter to strengthen its regional brokers in getting and retaining new business.

Palmer will work in a regional development capacity within Pen Underwriting’s risk management-led business, based out of Birmingham.

He will be responsible for underwriting new business with Pen’s Midlands-based brokers, reporting to underwriting director Stewart Gardiner and regional director for the Midlands & South, Nick Milton.

Palmer joins from Chubb Insurance Company of Europe where he was a senior development underwriter. He has over 20 years of experience in the industry, having worked for several years at AXA as a development underwriter; and prior to that at Ecclesiastical, QBE and RSA.

“Recruiting underwriting talent is essential to our success as we continue to grow and we’re delighted to welcome James,” said Gardiner.

“We are always looking for trading underwriters who want to use their knowledge and expertise to find ways to get something done, rather than list reasons why it can’t. We’re here to help brokers win and retain business — and James’ wealth of experience enhances our ability to do that in the Midlands.”

“Since launch, just over 18 months ago, Pen’s risk management-led commercial solution has proved a hit with like-minded brokers who want to mitigate client risk first and foremost. They work with our in-house surveyors and trade-focused technical underwriters to cut unnecessary business costs and exposures,” he added.

Milton said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome James to the Midlands team; he has a fantastic reputation in the local market and great experience in developing new broker accounts. The Midlands region represents a huge opportunity for us and we are looking forward to sharing our strategic growth plans with existing broker partners and talking to prospective new partners.”