Carrick appoints Alex Smith as COO as Phil Hernon retains commercial role
Carrick Group has appointed Alex Smith as chief operating officer (COO), succeeding Phil Hernon, who will retain his position as chief commercial officer as the Bermuda-based legacy insurer separates the roles to support its next phase of growth.
Smith, who is based in London, has been with Carrick for more than a year and has worked in the insurance industry since 1997. His previous employers include Liberty Special Markets, Brit, Swiss Re, Pen Underwriting and PoloWorks.
Hernon, who has been with Carrick since its foundation in 2019, previously held both the COO and chief commercial officer positions. He will continue as chief commercial officer, focusing on new business opportunities and relationships across the global market.
Chief executive officer Tom Nichols said the separation of the roles would allow Carrick to focus on new opportunities as the company expands.
Hernon said,“As Carrick continues to grow and evolve, the time is right for me to hand over the COO responsibilities to someone who also has a deep understanding of our business, culture, people, and underwriting philosophy.
“Alex has been with Carrick for over a year, but long before his arrival he was identified as the natural successor to me in this role.
“I am delighted to be passing the COO responsibilities to someone who is exceptionally capable, knowledgeable and committed. This transition will allow me to focus fully on my role as chief commercial officer, strengthening relationships across the global market and supporting Carrick's next phase of growth. I do so with complete confidence, knowing that the operational leadership of the business is in very capable hands.”
Smith said: “I am very pleased and honoured to take on the role of chief operating officer and I’m grateful to Phil for his support and guidance, both before and since I joined Carrick. My priority as COO is to maintain the strong operational foundation that Phil has built, and to ensure that we continue to onboard and integrate new transactions efficiently as the business grows. I look forward to working closely with Tom, Phil, and the rest of the team in the next stage of Carrick’s development.”
Nichols added: “As a result of Phil’s hard work, talent and industry network, Carrick is well-positioned for future success. Separating out the COO and chief commercial officer roles allows Carrick to focus on new opportunities as the company expands. Alex has demonstrated that he is ready and capable to lead the operations team as COO as Carrick continues to grow through exciting opportunities.”
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