Castel appoints new non-exec chairman in expansion move

London-based Castel Underwriting Agencies, a managing general agent (MGA) formation platform, has appointed Bob Cowdell as its first independent non-executive chairman.

Cowdell will assume the role from Jon Godfray who has served as chairman since Castel’s formation in 2013. Cowdell is currently a non-executive director (NED) at Castel.

The move is a further strengthening of the Castel board and governance, as it looks to expand both in the UK and European markets, the company said in a statement.

In June, Castel opened its first European branch office in Amsterdam, with the aim of targeting European opportunities post-Brexit. The office will provide a platform to develop and launch specialty underwriting cells in Europe.

Castel CEO Mark Birrell said: “Since joining Castel, Bob’s experience in driving successful growth has been very evident. His leadership in this arena comes at a crucial time as we start to expand our footprint in Europe. I would like to thank Jon Godfray for his outstanding contribution to Castel. The business has grown significantly under his chairmanship, despite the challenges of prevailing markets.”

Cowdell commented: “Castel provides an environment for talented, entrepreneurial underwriters in specialty markets to build their own businesses. The model is successful, and I look forward to the challenge of chairing the board and sharing my experience as we continue to build on our UK success and develop internationally.”

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