Corporate round-up

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions appoints new Benelux head and open Dutch office

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, the primary insurance arm of the reinsurer, has opened an office in Amstelveen, the Netherlands, to bolster its presence in the Benelux market. The company has also appointed Jeroen Weurding to lead its Benelux operations.

Mr Weurding joins Swiss Re Corporate Solutions with over 15 years of experience in the commercial insurance market, having previously worked for Zurich Financial Services and Delta Lloyd.

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The new office will provide insurance solutions to large and upper-middle market corporations domiciled in the Benelux region, offering a broad range of property, casualty and industry-specific products.

Fred Kleiterp, Head of Europe, Middle East & Africa at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, commented: “Through the opening of an office in Amstelveen we clearly signal our strong commitment to this important region. With our local presence, we will be ideally positioned to better serve and strengthen relationships with clients and brokers.”

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions said the expansion of its office network in Europe is part of its strategy to grow its book of business with large and upper-middle market corporations. Earlier this year an office was established in Genoa, and last year in Copenhagen and Paris. Other European offices are located in London, Milan, Munich and Zurich.

Willis to open office in Harbin, China

The Chinese Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) has granted approval for Willis China to open its 22nd office in the country in Harbin. It is the first foreign broker to be granted a license in the city.

The Harbin office will be the second new Willis China branch to open this year, following the opening of its Chongqing office.

Harbin is the capital and largest city of Heilongjiang Province in northeast China, as well as the tenth most populated city in the People’s Republic of China. It has a population of over 10 million.

In 2011, Harbin’s GDP reached RMB 424bn, an increase of 13.2 % over the previous year.

Mitchell Ma, CEO Willis China, commented: “We are very proud to announce the strengthening of our network by opening this new office—our second in the northeast—in one of the fastest-growing regions in the world.

“We look forward to working together with our insurance industry peers in the northeast including the CIRC, for whose support we are most grateful, to help facilitate the growth and protection of companies in Heilongjiang through the provision of local risk management services backed by the global expertise of Willis Group.”

Willis China has doubled in size over the past four years and today employs over 350 associates specialising in risk management and insurance services to medium- and large-sized enterprises in China.

Marsh appoints Miger as Swedish CEO

Marsh has announced that it will appoint Kenneth Miger as CEO of Marsh AB in Sweden. Mr Miger is expected to take up his position later this year.

He will join Marsh from Securitas AB, the global security services group headquartered in Sweden, where he is currently group risk and insurance director.

Prior to this, he held senior risk management positions at Electrolux and Scania.

Commenting on the announcement, Roy White, a member of Marsh’s European Executive Committee, said: “We are delighted to welcome someone of Kenneth Miger’s senior management experience, broad technical capabilities and well-established reputation to Marsh.

“Kenneth’s skills and experiences will bring great insights to complement the strong Marsh Sweden team, enabling us to bring the latest risk management solutions our clients require to protect their assets and thrive.”

UIB agrees deal to write solicitors’ PI insurance on behalf of Elite

United Insurance Brokers (UIB) has agreed a binding authority deal with ATE legal expenses insurer Elite Insurance Company to underwrite solicitors’ PI insurance on its behalf.

The deal gives UIB and its clients unique access to the Elite solicitors’ PI capacity.

UIB said the move makes it one of the few brokers in the market to have its own capacity directly available for clients.

Jason Smart, CEO of Elite, commented: “We are well known in the solicitors’ market for our ATE insurance, but we have wanted for a while to extend this into a Professional Indemnity. Simon Lovat and the team at UIB have great expertise in this area, and a client book to match; so this binding authority works for both of us, as well as bringing extra capacity into the market, and giving solicitors another route to the PI insurance that they need.”

Marsh makes key appointments to UK regulated professions practices

Marsh has appointed John Kunzler as Head of its UK Regulated Professions Practice for England and Wales and promoted William Cooper to Head of its England & Wales Solicitors’ Professional Indemnity (PI) Practice, with responsibility for firms outside of the top 100.

Mr Kunzler joins Marsh from Travelers, where he was Senior Product Manager for Professions’ PI, including solicitors, surveyors, accountants and architects.

Also joining the practice are Christopher Jackson and Joe Francescott, both experienced in the insurance broking and underwriting markets for PI risks.

Commenting on the new appointments Matthew Rolph, the managing director in the Financial and Professional Practice at Marsh, said: “Since the financial crisis, the PI insurance market has become increasingly challenging for many law firms outside the top 100. For some, climbing rates have led to difficulty securing PI insurance from well-rated insurers at a price within their means.

“The new additions to our UK Solicitors’ PI team strengthen Marsh’s capabilities to assist these firms and further reinforces our position as the leading insurance adviser to the legal sector throughout the UK.”

Marsh offers two to three-partner firms in England and Wales exclusive access to Legal & Professional Insurance, part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe, and four to ten-partner firms exclusive access to XL Insurance for solicitors’ PI cover. As a result, smaller firms in England and Wales can secure, through Marsh, the comprehensive insurance provision enjoyed by many of the largest 100.