Gallagher MGA Pen appoints ex-Brit Reinsurance boss Turner as exec chair

Gallagher-owned managing general agency (MGA) Pen Underwriting has appointed Jonathan Turner as executive chairman.

He takes up the role from 1 September and will report to Gallagher International chief executive Grahame Chilton.

Gallagher said that Turner would work alongside Pen managing director Mark Armitage to evaluate current capital arrangements and review how Pen can maximise its underwriting capability, as well as looking at new ways to provide capacity for customers in the future.

Turner will also work with Pen’s wider leadership team to drive the profitable development of the specialist underwriting portfolio both in the UK and internationally.

Turner was previously at Brit Insurance where he held a number of senior roles including Brit Reinsurance chief executive and active underwriter of Brit Insurance’s Syndicate 2987. Prior to that he spent nine years at QBE International Insurance, latterly as the general manager for QBE Re.

Chilton said: “There is significant growth potential within our Pen underwriting operation and under Mark Armitage’s leadership we have ambitious plans to ensure we offer our customers a distinctly different route to high quality, specialist underwriting. Jonathan is a great addition to the Pen business.”

Commenting on his appointment Turner added: “It’s been an impressive twelve months for Pen, in which Mark and the team have created a single brand for all of the underwriting specialisms as well as implementing a new business structure that mirrors the profile of its customers.

“The business is at an exciting stage of its development and I am looking forward to working with the leadership team to ensure we can maximise our opportunities and add value at every stage of the underwriting process.”