Hiscox appoints new UK Chief Underwriting Officer and Managing Director of UK Direct

Specialist global insurer Hiscox today announces two new senior appointments within its UK retail business.

Ben Horton has been appointed Chief Underwriting Officer for Hiscox UK & Ireland and joins from Zurich where he spent four years as EMEA Claims Director. Prior to this he spent eight years at RSA in a variety of commercial roles including Head of Strategic Sourcing, Commercial Operations Director and Personal Claims Director. In his new role Ben will be based in London.

James Browne has been appointed Managing Director of the UK and Ireland Direct business. Prior to Hiscox, James was a Senior Marketing Director at Phillips in the Netherlands where he worked for a decade. James started his career as a Management Graduate Trainee at Unilever, where he spent seven years in a variety of Marketing and Commercial roles. James will be based in York, the home of our UK Direct operations.

Ben Walter, CEO Hiscox Global Retail commented: “Our retail business is an increasingly important component of Hiscox Group and like any insurance business good underwriting is critical to success. Ben Horton’s deep industry expertise and sharp eye for new opportunities are exactly what we need to drive our most established retail business forward.

“Our Direct channel has been integral to the success of our retail arm. It’s an exciting part of the business that never stands still, and we’re delighted to have a customer-focused executive like James on-board to take it forward. He is an exceptional leader who will build on the great momentum we have in the franchise.” 

Ends

 For further information please contact:

Hiscox Ltd
Katie Bergin
+44 (0) 20 7448 6459
[email protected]
 

About The Hiscox Group
Hiscox is a global specialist insurer, headquartered in Bermuda and listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:HSX). Our ambition is to be a respected specialist insurer with a diverse portfolio by product and geography. We believe that building balance between catastrophe-exposed business and less volatile local specialty business gives us opportunities for profitable growth throughout the insurance cycle. It’s a long-standing strategy which in 2017 saw the business deliver a profit before tax (excluding foreign exchange) of £93.6 million despite reserving net $225 million for claims in the most costly year ever for natural catastrophes.

The Hiscox Group employs over 2,700 people in 14 countries, and has customers worldwide. Through the retail businesses in the UK, Europe, Asia and the US, we offer a range of specialist insurance for professionals and business customers as well as homeowners. Internationally traded, bigger ticket business and reinsurance is underwritten through Hiscox London Market and Hiscox Re & ILS.

Our values define our business, with a focus on people, quality, courage and excellence in execution. We pride ourselves on being true to our word and our award-winning claims service is testament to that. For more information, visit www.hiscoxgroup.com.


All press releases