CEO (Chief Executive Officer) For a Lloyd’s Managing Agent

The client is the specialty underwriting arm of a prominent international insurer, with over £4 billion in gross written premium and a global workforce exceeding 3,000 employees. The organisation, primarily focused on commercial and personal lines, sought to appoint a CEO to drive their Lloyd’s syndicate. With a strong underwriting leadership team in place, the role required a strategic leader who could manage corporate functions and align the business with group-level priorities.

This search presented several complexities. The client’s exceptionally high expectations required candidates with significant market profile and strategic vision. However, their syndicate was not of a size that would typically attract the calibre of candidate they wanted.

The position demanded a self-starting individual, lateral in their thinking, and capable of navigating an autonomous, people-focused culture. Many qualified candidates operated within matrixed organisations, limiting their exposure to genuine full P&L accountability.

The successful candidate had to balance leadership qualities with the technical expertise to oversee both underwriting and corporate functions. The need for global insights and market familiarity necessitated outreach across multiple geographies, including London, the US, and Bermuda.

• We conducted in-depth consultations with the independent non-executive directors and group stakeholders to refine the role requirements.
• We evaluated the client’s suggested candidate list with our own market research to ensure best-fit options.
• We embedded a psychometric assessment framework into the selection process for additional evaluation robustness.
• We leveraged Damhurst’s extensive senior-level network across London, the US, and Bermuda to source candidates.
• We discreetly referenced all long-listed candidates through market networks, assessing leadership style, track record, and communication ability.
• Maintained biweekly updates with the client, providing transparent progress reports and continuous candidate calibration.

• We targeted candidates including CEOs, COOs, and CFOs within specialty insurance, direct insurance, and reinsurance markets.
• Over 50% of the longlist originated from non-Lloyd’s backgrounds, emphasising diverse market experiences.
• We obtained input from specialty wholesale brokers and reinsurance brokers who knew this talent pool well, ensuring a comprehensive view of potential candidates.
• The final shortlist predominantly featured CEOs with proven records in underwriting, corporate strategy, and market engagement.

The client appointed an experienced CEO with a broad background in insurance, reinsurance, and Lloyd’s markets. Within their initial tenure, the candidate conducted a comprehensive assessment of the business, leading to key leadership adjustments and realignments. They established a galvanised and efficient organisational structure, fostering collaboration and focus, and delivered exceptional results, positioning the business as a high-performing entity within the group portfolio.