Fidelis appoints female trailblazer to board of directors

One of the first female underwriters at Lloyd’s of London has been appointed to the board of Bermuda-based Fidelis Insurance Holdings.

Fidelis said today it had appointed Christine Dandridge, who was also one of the founders of Atrium Underwriting, to the board along with Matthew Adams, who was the leader of PwC’s insurance practice.

Dandridge is a veteran of the specialty insurance market, with experience spanning more than four decades.

She was one of the founding members of Atrium Underwriting and served as active underwriter of Syndicate 609 from 1997 to 2007, was on numerous Lloyd’s market committees and was a member of the Council of Lloyd’s from 2004 to 2007. Since then, she has held several non-executive directorships.

She began her career in 1978 as a broker at Stewart Wrightson, before joining the underwriting team at Posgate and Denby Syndicate in 1980 and becoming one of the first female underwriters at Lloyd’s.

Dandridge will serve on the Board’s Risk Committee.

Adams led PwC’s US insurance practice and was a member of PwC’s global insurance practice leadership team From 2015-2021. He retired from PwC in June 2023, following a 38-year career with the firm. He will sit on the board’s audit committee.

Fidelis said: “Matt’s leadership of PwC’s US Insurance Practice has exposed him to many diverse aspects of the insurance sector, and he has significant experience managing the strategic, operational, profitability and human capital challenges of leading a large, quickly growing business.”

Helena Morrissey, chair of the FIHL board of directors, said: “The board of directors of FIHL is pleased to announce its expansion following the Company’s initial public offering on June 28, 2023.

“Christine and Matt are professionals of the highest calibre in their respective fields, with decades of experience in the insurance industry. We are pleased to have the opportunity to benefit from their experience.”

Fidelis CEO Dan Burrows, said, "I am extremely pleased that Christine and Matt have agreed to join our Board.

“Christine’s vast underwriting and risk experience will provide great perspective to Fidelis. Matt’s substantial insurance and audit experience will be of substantial value to the Audit Committee and the Company as we progress through our first year as a public company and beyond. I look forward to working closely with both Christine and Matt.”