Dual MD given executive chairman role

DUAL Corporate Risks has promoted managing director Russell Kilpatrick to the newly created position of executive chairman.

The company said the new role will enable him to focus on exploring strategic growth opportunities both in the UK and internationally.

Mark Bridges, DUAL Corporate Risk’s director of operations, has also been promoted to managing director and will run the business on a day to day basis.

Prior to joining DUAL Corporate Risks, Kilpatrick served as managing director of ACE Corporate Risks; a joint venture between ACE Gibraltar (Holdings) Limited and R Kilpatrick Holdings Limited. The business was acquired by DUAL International in 2003.

Under Kilpatrick’s leadership, DUAL Corporate Risks has grown quickly in size and opened a regional office in Manchester to complement the London operation. The business recently reported its most successful year yet, with GWP exceeding £40m.

Kilpatrick is also chief underwriting officer of DUAL International and was appointed to the Board of DUAL’s parent company Hyperion Insurance Group in April 2007.

Bridges joined DUAL Corporate Risks in August 2008 as director of operations from AIG where he was operations & systems manager for Central Europe and Russia.

Stephen Crowther, executive chairman DUAL International, said: “Since acquiring the business in 2003 Russell has done a fantastic job in driving DUAL Corporate Risks forward, both in terms of premium growth and the quality of the products available to brokers.

“The market is undergoing considerable change due the current economic environment and, as a market leader in the provision of D&O and PI products, we intend to take full advantage of the increased demand for corporate protection. As Executive Chairman, Russell will now have the time he needs to capitalise on the numerous market opportunities being presented to us while Mark will use his well proven skills to run the business.