5 August 2014News

ACE strengthens European cyber practice with management hire

Bermuda-based insurer ACE has announced the appointment of Kyle Bryant as regional cyber manager for Continental Europe, as it further invests in its cyber risk practice to meet evolving customer needs.

Bryant, previously assistant vice president at ACE USA, will focus on bringing together ACE’s extensive international first and third-party expertise, underwriting capabilities, risk management and incident response services to deliver bespoke, market-leading solutions to brokers and clients.

The appointment follows the launch of ACE’s global cyber risk practice, established to facilitate the sharing of global expertise and drive seamless solutions for the benefit of buyers. Working with Toby Merrill as head of the practice and his colleagues across ACE’s global network, Bryant will contribute to the development of the practice and execute its strategy across Continental Europe, paying close attention to proposition development, underwriting strategy and market relationships locally.

He will report to Grant Cairns, regional manager of financial lines for ACE in Continental Europe and will work in close partnership with Gilbert Flepp, cyber risks manager (first party) for ACE in Continental Europe. Bryant’s appointment is effective 1st August and he will initially be based in London.

Bryant has over eight years of insurance industry experience in underwriting, product management, claims and legal roles focused on technology and professional liability risks. He joined ACE six years ago and, most recently, his responsibilities included regional manager for technology and professional liability in ACE’s US Mid-Atlantic region, where he oversaw the successful growth of a broad portfolio of professional liability, technology errors and omissions (E&O), data privacy and cyber insurance risks.

Grant Cairns, regional manager for financial lines for ACE in Continental Europe, says: “At ACE, we are committed to bringing together our global cyber risk experience for the benefit of our local customers. European brokers and clients tell us that the insurance industry still has some way to go in meeting their expectations for clearer, more comprehensive cyber risk solutions. With his extensive experience in the fast-maturing US cyber market and deep expertise in third-party liability risks, I am confident that Kyle’s appointment will help us to enhance our customer proposition in a way that responds to these market challenges in Europe.”