Insurance Times rounded up the most significant appointments, restructures and leadership changes from 1 to 5 December 2025.
This week, Aviva confirmed it would cut more than 60 roles following its decision to close By Miles. At the same time, a series of senior hires across Arch, Westfield, Miller and Santam highlighted continued investment.
Aviva confirmed that 62 roles would be lost after its decision to divest from Direct Line Group’s By Miles, the pay-as-you-drive motor proposition acquired by DLG in April 2023. The insurer said the reduction formed part of the cost-saving commitments announced during its takeover of DLG earlier this year.
A spokesperson said the changes would be phased throughout 2026 to ensure customers continued to be served “until the end of their policy”. Aviva added that it was exploring redeployment opportunities across the wider group for those affected.
Arch Insurance updated its regional motor division with three senior underwriting hires across its fleet and motor trade teams. Paul Fincham joined as senior new business fleet underwriter in Southampton from Axa.
Aaron Hobbs, previously a trading underwriter at Aviva, became senior existing business fleet underwriter with responsibility for renewal business across the south and Thames Valley. Meanwhile, Helen Williams moved from Geo Agriculture to become a senior motor trade underwriter in Manchester.
Elsewhere, Westfield Specialty International expanded its London financial lines presence with the appointment of Ben Watson as class underwriter to lead its new cyber team. The unit will begin writing business on 1 January 2026.
Watson joined after nearly six years as a senior cyber underwriter at Zurich, having previously spent more than three years at Beazley.
Specialist broker Miller also made a senior appointment, hiring former Beazley head of data architecture Paul Lineham as head of data.
Bringing more than 30 years of experience, Lineham will focus on enhancing the broker’s data-driven capabilities and supporting wider technological development.
Finally, Africa’s largest non-life insurer, Santam Group, secured Lloyd’s approval for its new venture, Santam Syndicate 1918.
With this, the syndicate appointed Rob Vetch as chief executive and chief financial officer, with Simon Clapham becoming chief underwriting officer and active underwriter. Richard Weston will serve as chief actuary and chief risk officer, while Carla Jordan will serve as chief engagement and portfolio officer.
Hosted by comedian and actor Tom Allen, 34 Gold, 23 Silver and 22 Bronze awards were handed out across an amazing 34 categories recognising brilliance and innovation right across the breadth of UK general insurance.
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