GRP lures AJG execs
Global Risk Partners (GRP), the London market focused consolidator, has appointed Simon Lewer as chief operating officer (COO) of its managing general agent (MGA) division.
Lewer will be responsible for the development of GRP’s electronic trading initiatives. He has also been appointed as the electronic trading director of Plum Underwriting, the group’s specialist household MGA.
Kris Lee has also joined Plum as head of e-trade underwriting, to work with the key broker software houses to add Plum’s products to their systems. His responsibilities include the development of new products and the management of delegated authorities via its e-Trading division.
Both executives join from Arthur J Gallagher (AJG). At the broker, Lewer served as underwriting director of e-underwriting and Lee served as underwriting manager, e-underwriting.
Completing the specialist e-trade division at Plum are Clive De Pledge, Gary Smith and Jonathan Meyers, who recently joined Plum from Towergate.
David Margrett, chief executive of GRP, said: "Simon’s experience and expertise in this area makes him an invaluable asset to GRP. He has established a well deserved reputation in the market for developing smart, e-traded household insurance solutions for some of the UK's biggest brokers. He will help provide Plum with a fantastic platform for growth.”
David Whitaker, managing director of Plum Underwriting, added: "Brokers looking to place specialist household risks need immediate access to flexible products and decision makers who want to trade.
“Plum has already built a strong reputation for high standards of service and Simon, Kris and the team bring a unique set of skills that will develop our new range of e-traded specialist household products to help accelerate the expansion of our UK and Ireland broker base.”
Lewer said: "Brokers tell me they want the efficiency of electronic trading for non- standard household but they also need the reassurance that they can access immediate underwriting support for risks that are more complex.
“Plum Underwriting has some of the best specialist household underwriters in the market.
“By developing products specifically designed to be traded electronically, our brokers will benefit from a high quote rate and lower operational costs¬ - we are aiming to be best-in-class.”
