Sompo appoints ex-Aspen leader as new chief underwriting officer and head of strategy for international markets

Sompo has appointed Henry MacHale as chief underwriting officer and head of strategy for its international markets insurance business.

In his new role, MacHale will work closely with Sompo’s regional underwriting leaders and teams to help drive underwriting performance, set global underwriting policy and partner closely to ensure the implementation of pricing and underwriting risk control frameworks.

The Sompo international markets insurance business is active across 22 countries and four regions, including the UK and continental Europe. 

He will also work with regional chief executives to develop and shape the international markets strategy to provide further focus on organic and inorganic growth opportunities and to enhance, through collaboration, connectivity and alignment within the business, keeping the strengths of local expertise and decision-making.

Most recently serving as group chief strategy officer at Aspen, MacHale will be based in London and report to Alessa Quane, chief executive for international markets.

Quane said: “MacHale’s appointment is an important step for our international markets business.

”He has a strong track record in underwriting specialty products and brings strategic leadership and deep industry experience, which will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen underwriting performance, enhance governance and risk controls and sharpen the focus of our strategy across regions.”

Experience

Serving Aspen for over 15 years, MacHale held various leadership positions at the (re)insurer, including co-chief UK underwriting officer from 2019.

Entering the firm as underwriter for kidnap, ransom and piracy in 2010, he took up roles including global head of crisis management, global head of specialty and portfolio director for first party and specialty. 

Commenting on the appointment, Quane added: ”I am confident that MacHale’s leadership and direction will help us to deliver even greater connectivity, consistency, discipline and long-term success as we continue to grow our international markets business.”