BMS Appoints Douetil as Group CEO; Cook CEO of UK Broker Entity

The UK’s BMS Associates, a specialist independent broker and underwriting group, has appointed Dane Douetil as its new Group Chief Executive Officer.

BMS Associates is the parent company of BMS Group Limited, its UK broking entity; of BMS Intermediaries Inc., its US broking arm; and of Pioneer Underwriting Limited, its underwriting platform.

Douetil is expected to commence his role in early September, and “will lead the company in the second phase of its development strategy, which has seen BMS revenues grow by 27 percent since 2010 as it has taken advantage of global opportunities and established its fast-growing Pioneer Underwriting platform.”

Douetil previously served as the CEO of Brit Insurance Holdings NV, and has more than 30 years of industry experience, covering broking and underwriting in insurance and reinsurance as well as in retail and wholesale environments. Prior to restructuring Benfield Re, which became Brit Insurance, he was a founding shareholder and director of specialist insurance broker Special Risk Services Limited, a business which was successfully transformed from a start-up to a highly profitable enterprise and sold to Minets (now AON).

BMS’ new CEO began his career at Willis, and “has deep roots in Lloyd’s and the London markets, having previously been Chairman of the Lloyd’s Market Association and of the London Market Reform Group,” said the announcement. He was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in recognition of the reform work undertaken in the UK insurance market in 2007.

In a companion announcement BMS confirmed Nick Cook as CEO of BMS Group Limited, its regulated UK broking entity. He has been acting as CEO on an interim basis since April of this year.

Cook has been with BMS since 2010, and was previously CEO of Glencairn Group Limited. He is an executive director on the board of BMS Group Limited and BMS Associates Limited.

The appointments of the two executives are subject to approval by the UK regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority.

Christopher Hopton, Chairman of BMS Associates noted that Cook has “built-out the wholesale platform at BMS, posting encouraging growth and winning new business. He has increasingly taken on additional responsibilities, including our UK reinsurance strategy. With his experience in building successful businesses and his strong network in the markets, he is very well positioned to lead our UK broking activities.”

Cook and Darren Doherty, CEO of Pioneer Underwriting, along with other members of the company’s Executive Committee, will report to Douetil. “The search for a CEO of BMS Intermediaries, its US broking arm, continues, and the successful candidate will also report to Mr. Douetil,” said the bulletin.

Source: BMS Group Limited

Topics Agencies Underwriting