IQUW celebrates successful first year

IQUW is celebrating a full year in business, “marking rapid growth and achievements”, including the rebuild of Lloyd’s syndicate 1856 and merging of Agora Syndicate Holdings, the launch of a new suite of re/insurance products, and the development of a new strategic intelligence strategy, “underpinned by a wealth of diverse talent”.

IQUW group chief executive officer, Peter Bilsby, said the company was established “to embrace the future of underwriting”.

“We have assembled an impressive roster of talent, across London and Bermuda, to build our specialty offering–creating a team that blends the most recent thinking with decades of experience, across the spheres of underwriting, finance, operations and investing in the re/insurance sector.

“We are incredibly thankful for the continued support given by our partners, clients, brokers, syndicate capital partners, and the wider community. With our growing talent, our intelligent platform and increasing product and services portfolio, we are very much looking forward to what the next year will bring.”

IQUW was established on 1 July last year, backed by private-equity firms Aquiline and Abry Partners, and launching with a clean balance sheet and a focus on a global portfolio, diversified by geography and segment. Lines of business include cargo, crisis management, political risk, cyber, property delegated authority, property D&F, directors & officers, energy, financial institutions, marine & energy, aviation, political violence & terrorism, war, property treaty (US and international), and specialty reinsurance.

Milestones achieved in IQUW’s first year also include the appointment of Stephen Young as the new Bermuda CEO and head of reinsurance.

Dave Morris later joined as group chief underwriting officer, followed by Steve Tebbutt as active underwriter.