Alta Signa launches marine underwriting business
Boutique managing agent Alta Signa Europe has launched a new European marine underwriting business.
Alta Signa, which is backed by Bermuda-based SiriusPoint and Sompo International, said the new unit will focus on core marine lines of business and is also backed by Axeria IARD.
The team is headed by Francesco Dubbioso (pictured), head of technical underwriting for marine, based in Genoa, Italy. Dubbioso was most recently CEO of Mediterranea Underwriting.
He will also be supported by Danilo Fiore, acting head of technical underwriting for hulls and yachts. Before joining Alta Signa on December 18, Fiore was a senior marine hull underwriter with Swiss Re Corporate Solutions for over 10 years and prior to this, held a similar position with Assicurazioni Generali.
Barbara Vida recently joined the team as a senior cargo underwriter and brings a wealth of international cargo insurance experience having worked previously for Mediterranea Underwriting, Liberty and XL. Simona Ballestrero is marine technical accounting and operations manager and also joined Alta Signa from Mediterranea Underwriting.
Marie Lepelletier, a marine insurance law practitioner, is a group claims manager having previously been with Generali Global Corporate & Commercial.
Gerard Van Loon, chief executive officer, said: “The arrival of this brilliant new Marine underwriting team adds a new strategic arrow to the Alta Signa bow and I am thrilled they decided to join our MGA family.
"With the new marine line of business, we aim to become even more meaningful to our distribution partners by broadening our portfolio beyond the financial, professional and cyber lines of business. We welcome the new team to Alta Signa and I know that we will benefit enormously from their broad range of highly relevant market experience and expertise.”
Dubbioso, who is also the branch manager for Italy, said: “I am delighted to be launching our new marine underwriting business and am extremely proud of the quality of the team we were able to attract.
"The European marine market is expected to present niche growth opportunities in 2024 and beyond for those MGAs who are agile enough to address the unique challenges in this sector. In an environment where differentiation and relevance are key, I am extremely excited by the opportunities this presents for nimble businesses such as the one we have now assembled at Alta Signa. I can't wait to start this new venture with a team of highly motivated experts.”
Thomas Karlsson, Trading Head, Stockholm for SiriusPoint, said: “We entered our partnership with Alta Signa almost two years ago, with plans to work together as the MGA broadened its geographic footprint and widened its offering. It’s wonderful to see these plans come to fruition with the launch of a new European marine underwriting business.
“This expansion also complements SiriusPoint’s risk appetite as we continue to channel new partnerships through our MGA Centre of Excellence in the Nordics and Continental Europe. We are a proud partner of Alta Signa and look forward to continued collaboration as it capitalises on the niche growth opportunities the market presents in 2024 and beyond.”
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