Client Coverage
Business Insurance reports that mea Platform has hired Julie McKenna as vice president of sales, North America, as the company continues to grow, following a recent funding round.
McKenna brings nearly 30 years’ experience in P&C insurance technology, having held senior sales leadership roles at Fiserv and Guidewire Software, where she led the sale of core policy, claims, billing and reinsurance platforms to US carriers.
In her new role, she will drive mea’s North American sales strategy, supporting wider adoption of mea Operations as insurers seek faster, more efficient and integrated underwriting and claims processes. McKenna said she was drawn to mea’s emphasis on “real operational execution” as demand shifts toward AI‑enabled solutions.
Harry McNeil, reporter at Insurance Times sat down with managing director Richard Turnbull to discuss the creation of Collegiate, how it has evolved, and takes a look at the challenges an opportunities ahead.
As the professional indemnity MGA marks its 40th year, Richard looks back on its mutual roots, long‑term development and the enduring importance of underwriting discipline over volume.
Collegiate’s four‑decade evolution has been defined by measured, disciplined progress, growing from a mutual insurer into a £100m GWP specialist MGA by prioritising underwriting quality, cultural stability and thoughtful adaptation, rather than chasing market cycles.
SiriusPoint has reported net income available to common shareholders of $444 million for full-year 2025, alongside expanded consolidated underwriting income of $302.8 million and a near 17.8 % rise in net earned premiums.
Gross written premium climbed to $3.69 billion, driven by growth in Insurance & Services and international programmes. The company also delivered solid reinsurance results despite elevated catastrophe losses.
CEO Scott Egan said: “Our disciplined underwriting strategy, customer mindset, and relentless focus on delivery means we have a lot to be pleased about in 2025… We enter 2026 with great momentum and determination.”
Artificial Labs has launched AgLabs, an innovation arm aimed at accelerating agentic AI for specialty and commercial markets, with a focus on human‑led workflows.
AgLabs will explore secure agent‑to‑agent (A2A) interactions while rolling out practical tools that cut administrative friction between brokers and underwriters today.
“As a human‑led initiative, AgLabs is designed to remove the administrative friction that slows decision‑making—insurance professionals are paid for their expertise, not for chasing missing data,” said David King, co‑founder of Artificial Labs.
Pinion Insurance has officially launched as a speciality carrier, securing a preferred equity commitment of up to $180 million from global asset manager Barings to support capacity for managing general agents (MGAs) across the US, UK and Europe.
The Bermuda-incorporated, London-headquartered platform combines capital with a proprietary technology engine to enhance underwriting insight and portfolio visibility. Pinion is targeting US binding business in Q2 2026 and aims to underwrite in the UK and EU in 2027, subject to approvals.
Co-Founder and CEO Neil McConachie said: “Pinion will offer MGAs secure, long-term, quality capacity while providing meaningful visibility into underwriting performance and exposure.”
BluNiche, Product Recall insurance Managing General Agent, has expanded its portfolio with the launch of a new pharmaceutical recall product, backed by A+ (S&P) rated Lloyd’s capacity.
The MGA’s latest solution provides global cover for recall costs, loss of profits, and crisis consultancy, aimed at pharmaceutical firms, contract manufacturers, distributors and more.
Alex King, Senior Underwriter at BluNiche, said: “The pharmaceutical industry, where most recall issues tend to be batch or run specific – such as mislabelling, micro-contamination, or packaging defects – has very specific recall needs, and we’re delighted to now provide this critical support to the industry.”
Xceedance has announced the appointment of Gavin Lillywhite to the role of Senior Vice President, Business Development for the UK and continental European markets as part of a strengthened commercial leadership structure.
Lillywhite will focus on expanding Xceedance’s presence with brokers, MGAs, captives and re/insurers, working alongside fellow SVP Justin Davies, to capitalise on the firm’s growth momentum and deepen market engagement.
Lillywhite said: “I am thrilled to take on this new role at such an exciting time for Xceedance. I look forward to strengthening our relationships with brokers, MGAs, captives and European (re)insurers, and working closely with Amit and Justin to help even more organisations benefit from our services and expertise.”
Insurance Business reports that SiriusPoint has strengthened its North America P&C leadership with the appointment of John Sakakeeny as Chief Underwriting Officer, a newly created role designed to deepen technical expertise and support profitable growth.
Reporting to Patrick Charles and Group CUO Anthony Shapella, Sakakeeny brings two decades of experience from The Hartford.
Shapella said the appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the business: “Following a significant growth and build phase over the past two years, SiriusPoint has reached a level of scale that requires dedicated leadership to bolster product development and enhance MGA oversight.