Rokstone launches A&H business targeting £100m GWP with Optio hire
Aventum-owned specialty MGA Rokstone has launched a new accident and health (A&H) portfolio to be led by a senior hire from Optio. The new division expects to write £50 million GWP in three years and to double that to £100 million GWP in five years.
Darren Delande (pictured) will oversee the new division as head of A&H. He will join Rokstone after serving his notice at Optio, where he was latterly head of A&H for the last three years.
With nearly 20 years’ experience in A&H underwriting, Delande was previously at Aegis for four years from 2016, where he developed his own portfolio of international healthcare business, and before that spent seven years at Brit and four years at Arch.
Rokstone said its new A&H division is supported by a panel of A rated carriers and has a broad appetite internationally across both commercial and retail arenas.
James Potter, CEO of Rokstone, said: “We’re delighted Darren has chosen to join Rokstone to establish and lead our A&H team. His ambitions and drive are closely aligned with our own and it’s great to have him on board. Darren is undeniably one of the most experienced and knowledgeable underwriters in this area of the market and we’re excited to be working with him to develop and grow a global market leading A&H portfolio.
“At Rokstone we continue to broaden our Speciality (Re)insurance portfolio, expanding both our footprint and our appetite; in the last 12 months we’ve added PI, D&O, Credit Surety Treaty and now A&H. It is challenging areas of niche specialty lines like these that Rokstone excels at. A&H is a difficult market for brokers where there is a lack of capacity and limited underwriters who are true specialists. We give brokers that expertise and a reliable and consistent underwriting partner with a global reach and a ‘can do’ attitude. We’ll find a way, even for the most Special risks. Being able to offer this level of specialism and flexibility for Accident, Health and Travel, all under one roof, is also a big benefit for brokers.”
Delande commented: “Reputation is everything in this market and I know that in Rokstone I’ve found the ideal culture to grow a successful portfolio. The people, the entrepreneurial culture, the willingness to invest in innovation, backed by a global, successful, data led MGA with a sterling reputation, was a big draw and a unique opportunity for me.
“The business plan is ambitious but achievable in a market bursting with opportunity for an MGA of the right calibre. Importantly, Rokstone has a broad platform that can cater for both Commercial and Retail markets and both of these are a big part of our business plan. There aren’t many MGAs that can offer that capability and appetite, combined with the right culture and ambition.”
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