Pen Underwriting appoints six in marine leadership reshuffle

MGA Pen Underwriting has made six new leadership appointments in its specialist marine practice.

Tom Batterbury will assume the role of managing director for the marine war and marine professional indemnity businesses, Vessel Protect and Freeboard, while Jack Buchan will become managing director for the firm’s brown water hull specialist, Fortify.

James King will head up the MGA’s sports and terminals facility, BMM Ports and Terminals, while Stephen Loader takes the leadership position at the company’s specialist marine trades business, TMT.

Meanwhile Munro Anderson, who currently serves as director of operations for Vessel Protect, will move to the role of director of strategy and operations for the entirety of Pen Underwriting’s marine practice.

Likewise, senior marine underwriter James Kent takes up a new role as commercial director across the firm’s marine businesses.

All of the new appointments are effective 1 January 2026 and they will report to the managing director of Pen Underwriting’s public sector and international division, Seb Simmonds.

Pivotal roles

Current co-managing directors of the marine function, Paul Hartley and Chris Goddard, will leave the business when the restructure comes into effect.

Commenting on the appointments, Simmonds said: “All those appointed to take on pivotal practice roles have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities since they became part of Pen Underwriting.

“Being able to promote from within speaks to the talent and bench strength within our individual marine underwriting specialisms and having a single head of strategy and operations will ensure we are aligned in our capabilities, operationally fit and able to execute our shared vision.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Goddard and Hartley for their contribution to the business over the past two years, as we worked to embed the marine capabilities into our broader suite of underwriting specialisms, and wish them all the best in their future endeavours.”