Argo appoints new space risks underwriter

Argo International has announced the appointment of Antoine Bavandi as space risks underwriter for Argo Assurances, Argo’s Paris-based underwriting platform focused on specialty insurance solutions.

Bavandi joins from Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, where he was underwriting space risks.

He began his career in 2004, working as a project engineer with Lockheed Martin in the USA then with the Ariane 5 division of CNES, the French space agency.

Following that, Bavandi worked between 2006 and 2010 at ESTEC, the European Space Agency Technical Center, where he served as a simulation and performance engineer. During that time, he led various R&T studies and space projects in cooperation with European industries, providing in particular risk modelling expertise to the re-entry operations of the ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) cargo spacecraft.

Managing director of Argo Assurances and global head of Aerospace for the Argo Group, Bruno Ritchie, said: “Antoine’s background in engineering and technical roles within the space industry, as well as his underwriting experience at Allianz, will be a huge asset to our specialist space offering. We continue to build an exceptional team at Argo Assurances and Antoine will play a key role in the development of this area of business.”