Pen Underwriting expands technical underwriting expertise in the Midlands with senior hire

Pen Underwriting has appointed James Palmer as Senior Underwriter to work in a regional development capacity, operating out of its Birmingham branch. James will work within its risk management-led commercial business and focus on driving growth through underwriting new business with Pen’s select panel of Midlands-based brokers.

Bringing over 20 years’ experience, James joins Pen Underwriting from Chubb Insurance Company of Europe, where he was senior development underwriter. Prior to that, he spent several years at Axa as a development underwriter and has also worked for Ecclesiastical, QBE and RSA in underwriting roles having begun his insurance career in claims. He specialises in commercial combined, contractors combined and property owners cover.

As part of the risk management-led commercial business, James will work closely with Stewart Gardiner, Underwriting Director for Pen Underwriting’s Commercial division, and Nick Milton, Regional Director for the Midlands & South, in further developing the Midlands region.

Stewart Gardiner said: “Since launch, just over 18 months ago, Pen’s risk management-led commercial solution has proved a hit with like-minded brokers who want to mitigate client risk first and foremost. They work with our in-house surveyors and trade-focused technical underwriters to cut unnecessary business costs and exposures.

“So recruiting underwriting talent is essential to our success as we continue to grow and we’re delighted to welcome James. We are always looking for trading underwriters who want to use their knowledge and expertise to find ways to get something done, rather than list reasons why it can’t. We’re here to help brokers win and retain business — and James’ wealth of experience enhances our ability to do that in the Midlands.”

Nick Milton added: “We are extremely pleased to welcome James to the Midlands team; he has a fantastic reputation in the local market and great experience in developing new broker accounts. The Midlands region represents a huge opportunity for us and we are looking forward to sharing our strategic growth plans with existing broker partners and talking to prospective new partners.” 

For further press information, please contact:

Lynn Rouse,
External Communications,
Pen Underwriting
+44 (0) 20 3425 3416
lynn_rouse@penunderwriting.com

Haggie Partners
David Haggie/ Rebecca Young
+44 (0) 20 7562 4444
david@haggie.co.uk / rebecca.young@haggie.co.uk

Notes to Editors:-

Pen Underwriting

In 2014, Pen Underwriting brought together some of the best known UK underwriters — Dallas Kirkland, e-Underwriting, Ink, IRS, Keelan Westall, OAMPS, Think, Vela, Woodbrook and Zennor — to create a new collective identity for its specialist underwriting businesses. The following year delegated authority specialist OIM Underwriting formally rebranded and joined forces with Pen Underwriting to create a single, cohesive underwriting agency.

Evolution Underwriting Group became part of the wider Pen Underwriting family in February 2015 through acquisition.

Pen Underwriting has three divisions: Commercial, Specialty and Volume.

With a wide and growing range of specialisms — from e-Solutions and delegated authorities for volume business through to specialty products with individual underwriting for hard to find placements; a national branch presence across 18 locations; and more than 350 insurance professionals Pen Underwriting represents one of the largest underwriting agencies in the UK.

For more information see www.penunderwriting.co.uk