Tony Hutchins will replace Paul Bloxham who is retiring from the business at the end of the year

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Ecclesiastical has hired Tony Hutchins as the new underwriting director for its UK general insurance business as the insurer seeks to strengthen its underwriting capability.

Hutchins joins Ecclesiastical from AXA where he held the position of head of commercial property. Prior to that he was the property and risk director at Allianz.

In his new role, Hutchins will report to Ecclesiastical deputy group chief executive and UK managing director Jacinta Whyte and will join the company’s UK general insurance division’s leadership team.

He will replace Paul Bloxham who is retiring from the company at the end of the year.

The insurer has also appointed Paul Messer to the new role of UK general insurance property account director.

Messer will be responsible for developing the general insurance property strategy and portfolio.

He joins Ecclesiastical from Allianz Commercial where he was the regional underwriting manager for the South East region.

Whyte said: “Tony and Paul are both great additions to our expert UK underwriting team and will complement the knowledge and strengths of our existing underwriting specialists.

“With a solid underwriting track record of over 35 years’ in the UK insurance industry, Tony’s experience in both front line underwriting and head office portfolio management will be of great benefit to us in deepening our technical expertise and achieving our business goals.”  

Commenting on his appointment, Hutchins said: “I am delighted to have joined Ecclesiastical, an organisation that I have long admired for its ethical stance and dedication to customer focus and service. I very much look forward to working with the team and our customers.”

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