The Norwegian Hull Club (NHC) is making key personnel changes at its London operation as branch head Ole Wikborg is set to retire later this year.
From 1 April senior underwriter Andrew Hannay will take the position of senior vice president of marine in London and replace Wikborg in heading up the office.
Hannay is an experienced underwriter and acts as the NHC’s representative on the Lloyd’s Market Association’s Joint War and Joint Hull Committees.
NHC chief underwriting officer Atle Fjeldstad said the appointment should be taken as a message to the London market that “we are here to stay.”
“Andy has developed a reputation and position in the London insurance market for himself and NHC secure our position for the present and future,” Fjeldstad said.
In a related move senior vice president for global specialty Hege Midtsaeter is moving from the NHC's headquarters in Bergen to London.
NHC said it had seen significant growth in business from the London insurance market over recent year and it credited the retiring Wikborg for its recent success in the marine insurance capital.
“Throughout the past five years, he has successfully established the club’s presence in London, following his 15 years as head of NHC’s Oslo branch,” the NHC said.