IGI Europe begins trading in Malta with former MAPFRE exec at the helm

International General Insurance Holdings (IGI) has been granted licensing by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) to establish a European subsidiary in Malta to directly access business across Europe.

International General Insurance Company (Europe) SE (IGI Europe) has been approved to begin writing business in Europe, while Keith Mallia-Milanes has joined IGI as chief executive officer of the new business.

Mallia-Milanes has more than 35 years of industry experience. He joins IGI from MAPFRE Middlesea, where he was most recently assistant general manager, responsible for the technical and operations division, including underwriting, reinsurance, claims, policy issuing and product management.

He previously held other senior management and executive roles within MAPFRE both in Malta and Italy, and before that with other Maltese insurance operators.

IGI Europe is authorised by the MFSA to write a full suite of IGI products and will exercise passport rights across the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA). Mallia-Milanes is responsible for all aspects of these operations, as well as business development across European markets. He reports to Andreas Loucaides, chief executive officer of IGI UK.

Loucaides said: “IGI’s footprint in mainland Europe, prior to the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, was managed through relationships between our UK-based underwriters and London brokers. Operating from Malta presents a good business growth opportunity and will better enable IGI to service European clients. Under Keith’s leadership, we will continue to build out our European team and grow our portfolio in continental Europe.”

Mallia-Milanes added: “IGI has a well-established reputation as an agile and disciplined underwriter, and IGI Europe will deliver that focus and ingenuity to the European market.”