Canopius targets aviation reinsurance with Axis hire

Canopius Group has launched an aviation reinsurance business with the appointment of Andrew Hartley (pictured) as head of Aviation Treaty, London.

Hartley joins from Axis Capital, where he served as head of Aviation. Prior to this, he was divisional director for Aviation at Novae Group for 17 years and deputy underwriter at Kingsmead Underwriting Agency. Hartley has also held aviation broking roles at Nicholson Chamberlain Colls and CT Bowring & Co.

The new aviation reinsurance business will initially write non proportional aviation reinsurance with the ambition to quickly establish it as a lead market.

Alois Rouffiac, UK chief underwriting officer and active underwriter, said: “Andrew is a recognised leader in the aviation reinsurance market. He brings exceptional experience and is the ideal candidate to launch our new aviation treaty class to complement our reinsurance offering. This market has experienced a number of difficult years and is primed for new entrants which bring additional capacity and expertise.”

Hartley added: “I am delighted to join Canopius. The business has firmly established itself as a Lloyd’s market leader with deep technical understanding of risk and a strong reputation across underwriting classes. Canopius are committed to building an aviation business for the long term and I am looking forward to working with the team to realise the significant opportunities in the market.”