Atrium reveals Fowle will be new CEO after Chaucer exit
John Fowle, who announced his departure as CEO of Chaucer Group earlier this week, will take the helm at fellow Lloyd’s managing agency Atrium Underwriting. Current group CEO of Atrium Richard Harries will retire at the end of June, naming Fowle as his successor after his contractual obligations with Chaucer expire.
James Lee, Atrium’s group chief operating officer, will serve as acting CEO until Fowle joins.
Harries, who has held the CEO post at Atrium for the past nine years, will continue as an adviser to Atrium and its shareholders, which include Stone Point Capital, following his retirement.
Harries said: “There are many decisions one makes in their working life but undoubtedly my greatest was to join the team at Atrium Syndicate 609 back in 1997… 26 years later, the last nine of which I have had the honour of being group CEO, Atrium remains a fantastic business.
“Syndicate 609 has continued its unbroken record of profitable results, we are over 200 people up from 11 in 1997, and our gross written premium is now over £1bn.”
In other changes, James Cox will move from compliance director to managing director. James Smith has been promoted from deputy compliance officer to replace Cox as compliance officer.
Chris Stooke, chair of Atrium, said: “John’s proven leadership, strategic acumen, and deep industry knowledge make him the ideal individual to lead us into our next chapter of growth.”
Fowle said: “I am looking forward to joining Atrium with great excitement and hope to help the business build further on the market-leading underwriting performance delivered under Richard’s leadership.”
Chaucer said a search is underway to replace Fowle as its group CEO.
