New MGA Mercia Underwriting reveals LV= poach and a hire from NIG

LV= Birmingham’s lead underwriter will be leaving his role to join the team at new MGA, Mercia Underwriting.

Mercia Underwriting, the MGA formed by ex-LV= Broker head of trading (north) Mark Hands, has revealed that current LV= Broker Birmingham lead underwriter Mike Hemming will be joining the company in January.

Mercia has also hired Mal Collins from NIG, where she is currently development underwriting manager. Collins has previously worked with Mercia Underwriting lead Mark Hands to grow NIG’s commercial book tenfold in the 2000s.

Hands said: “We are delighted to be recruiting such strong individuals to the team. We are committed to being the best and by recruiting the best people in the market we believe this enables us to provide the best possible service to our brokers.”

Earlier this month, Mercia revealed that it would be hiring from LV=’s Birmingham office. The MGA will hope to become competitive within the market by offering a wider range of products.