Ardonagh's Inver Re taps Hiscox veteran to drive growth strategy and innovation

The Ardonagh Group has hired a former  Hiscox veteran who also founded an insurance app called Kinsu to help drive the growth strategy of its reinsurance start-up Inver Re.

Chris Sharpe is joining Inver Re as strategy, innovation and business development director.

Sharpe is the former underwriting director of Hiscox Bermuda, who helped create Hiscox Re by bringing together the company's reinsurance operations across London and Bermuda.

He also founded London-based insurtech Kinsu, which provided insurance for laptop, phones, bicycles, and other home contents backed by a Lloyd’s syndicate. The company exited the market in April 2019.

Ardonagh’s CEO of reinsurance and capital Steve Hearn said: “Inver Re feels very much like a start-up, and no one knows start-ups better than Chris. It’s his vision, unique experience, digital first mindset and technical understanding of the reinsurance landscape that make him an invaluable asset to Inver Re’s proposition as we continue to grow.

“His relationships across global reinsurance markets will help us generate opportunities, and his entrepreneurial imagination will help us create different, dynamic reinsurance solutions.”

Sharpe commented: “Sitting within Ardonagh's $13 billion portfolio, we have a compelling opportunity to craft Inver Re within today's dynamic reinsurance market and unsettled broker landscape. Inver Re has the platform, the plan and most importantly the people to make the most of this amazing opportunity.

“I’m looking forward to helping Steve Hearn and the rest of the team build Inver Re into a world class, technology enabled, boutique reinsurance brokerage. I’ll be working across geographies and product lines to drive smart and sustainable growth, and I can’t wait to get started.”