Chaucer makes US property and international property appointments

Chaucer, the international specialty re/insurance group, has appointed Chance Gilliland as head of US property insurance, Mel Smart as head of international property fac and Michael Johnston as deputy class underwriter, international property binders.

These appointments will help drive Chaucer’s Property Division strategy, which aims to grow current core international property lines while leveraging distribution network partnerships in the US to develop new property opportunities.

Gilliland will be responsible for developing a delegated authority business portfolio through a core group of US partner agents. Chance was previously with Chubb where he worked for close to a decade writing US property binder business in London and the US.

Smart will grow Chaucer’s international direct and facultative property business. She was previously senior international property underwriter at Brit Global Specialty.

Johnston will work with Harry Woolf, class underwriter, to grow Chaucer’s International Property Binders account. For the last 10 years he has been with Liberty Specialty Markets.
Colin Clulow, head of property and political violence at Chaucer, said: "We have ambitious plans for our Property Division as these appointments demonstrate. Chance has a proven track record and strong market support which together make him an excellent choice to lead the development of our new US property account. While Mel and Michael bring significant knowledge and experience to our international property account.”

Nicola Stacey, chief underwriting officer at Chaucer, said: “These appointments will broaden our product range and enhance our underwriting expertise and service capabilities, and highlight our commitment to providing a market leading property underwriting team for clients, brokers, and MGAs.”