Pen Underwriting bolsters claims leadership with new role

London-based managing general agent (MGA) Pen Underwriting has promoted Alex Tinsley to the newly created position of head of technical claims, as part of its strategy to invest in enhancing its in-house claims capabilities as a virtual insurer.

Previously Pen’s head of commercial claims, Tinsley’s new role will see him take company-wide responsibility for claims across all divisions in setting strategy, agreeing personal delegated authority levels and support Pen’s insurer partners and capacity providers, while serving as the highest point of technical referral for claims.

It follows the promotion of Billy Hinken in April to head of claims operations. Both Tinsley and Hinken will continue to report into Gareth Crosbie, Pen’s claims director.

Tinsley has more than 20 years’ industry experience, including technical claims handling, consulting, negotiation and management on behalf of Lloyd’s syndicates and insurance companies, across a spectrum of commercial and personal insurances.

He said: “I’m delighted to step up into this new role that will ensure technical excellence remains at the heart of our claims proposition, and allows me to drive forward the continuous development of our claims teams, strategy and proposition.”

Crosbie commented: “Alex’s claims expertise and extensive experience mean he is ideally placed to lead on our technical claims strategy and maintain our close, collaborative partnership with our capacity providers.

“Just as Billy is 100% focused on operational efficiency and supporting the productivity of our claims team – to the direct benefit of our customers when they need us most – Alex’s new role enables him to focus on driving our technical strategy, service and support of our insurer partners.

“I know that Alex and Billy will excel in embracing the significant responsibilities, skills and exceptional level of service demanded by these newly created roles as we continually look for ways to invest in and further improve our claims offering for brokers, coverholders and capacity providers alike.”