Frederic Denefle, chief executive at French war risk underwriter Garex, has been appointed president of the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI).

Denefle said he would carry on outgoing president Richard Turner’s work in developing the themes of ESG, data and digitalisation at IUMI. He will also take over an ongoing strategic review of the global insurance association.

“I’m not coming here with new ideas or proposals but to consolidate the work that we have done and to show some results,” he said at a press briefing following his appointment at IUMI’s annual conference in Chicago.

One idea Denefle said he would like to pursue is cooperating with protection and indemnity clubs on claims data.

IUMI has been developing a claims database to improve transparency in the industry and to support loss prevention initiatives.

The International Group of P&I Clubs has also previously indicated it is interested in developing a database by combining claims data from its 13 member clubs.

“We would like to have a better exchange with P&I, they have data and experience in line with claims, this is an area in which we could share our knowledge,” Denefle said.

While ESG, or environmental, social and governance, was a major theme at the IUMI conference in Chicago, Denefle said the organisation itself still has some work to do in improving gender diversity on its executive board.

“We have to improve,” he said. “It is a slow process, but we have to move forward with this.”

Kosuke Hashimoto, general manager of marine underwriting at Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance, has been elected to the new role of IUMI vice president.