Santam Syndicate 1918 appoints 40-year veteran as head of property

Santam Syndicate 1918 – part of African non-life insurer Santam Group – has appointed industry veteran Nigel Tatlock as its new head of property.

The group said Tatlock will “lead the development of a dynamic and market-leading property underwriting team” and be asked to “build a global property book that includes US and international markets on both an open market and binder distribution basis”.

Tatlock’s 40 years of industry experience includes over 15 years at Liberty Specialty Markets, where he most recently served as head of worldwide property.

The new appointee said: “It is an exciting time to be joining Santam Syndicate 1918. I’m looking forward to delivering momentum to the syndicate’s strategic vision, collaborating closely with our international broker partners and clients to build a high quality, globally relevant property portfolio, supported by a talented underwriting team.”

Depth of experience

The syndicate, which launched on 1 January 2026, recently appointed Briyangha Suthagaran and Sam Tierney as assistant underwriters within its property division and said it has further plans for new hires in the coming months.

Simon Clapham, chief underwriting officer and active underwriter at Syndicate 1918, said: “The reception to the launch of Santam Syndicate 1918 has been truly fantastic and welcoming. This is also true in our recruitment efforts.

“The arrival of Tatlock, who is widely respected for his depth of experience and insights, will be a great boost as we continue to establish a strong and credible presence in the London market, driving sustainable growth for all our stakeholders.”