People Moves: Specialist Risk Group Names Former Lockton Executive Nimmo as CEO – UK; CFC Taps Line From Markel as Chief Underwriting Officer

This edition of International People Moves details London-based appointments at the broker Specialist Risk Group and the managing general agent CFC Underwriting.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

Specialist Risk Group Names Former Lockton Exec Nimmo as CEO – UK

Specialist Risk Group (SRG), the London-based insurance intermediary, announced the appointment of Neil Nimmo as CEO – UK.

Nimmo joins SRG with an outstanding track record of leadership in the insurance industry, SRG. Most recently, he served as CEO and chairman of Lockton, where he led the firm’s growth and international expansion over a distinguished career of 17 years. Nimmo’s expertise in organic growth, team leadership, strategy and execution, makes him a natural fit for SRG as it accelerates its ambitious global expansion, the broker said.

As CEO – UK, Nimmo will oversee SRG’s Retail, Wholesale, and Underwriting pillars in the UK. His leadership will be central to scaling SRG’s successful model in these channels, which form the foundation of SRG’s business and have seen exceptional growth in recent years. Nimmo will join the SRG Operating Board and Group Executive Committee subject to regulatory approvals.

Backed by Warburg Pincus and Temasek, SRG said it has achieved substantial growth since its founding by Warren Downey and Lee Anderson in 2019. The appointment of a UK CEO marks a pivotal step in expanding SRG’s leadership capability and depth, following the appointment of Collin Yap as CEO – Asia Pacific in 2024.

SRG said these strategic developments are part of building of a world class global leadership team as the company surpasses £250 million of revenue and 1,500 employees, 50% of which are outside the UK.

“We are delighted to welcome Neil to SRG. His leadership style, values and outstanding reputation make him an ideal fit for our business. Neil’s decision to join us is a strong endorsement of our strategy and a reflection of the unique platform we’re building at SRG,” commented Warren Downey, group CEO, in a statement.

“He will play a central role in helping us scale and strengthen our proposition in the UK and beyond. Lee and I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to grow.”

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CFC Taps Line From Markel as Chief Underwriting Officer

CFC, the London-based managing general agent, has appointed Nick Line as chief underwriting officer, to lead underwriting activities across the group.

Line will join the business in 2026, after 28 years at Markel where he has held the role of CUO since 2018.

Line has worked in the insurance industry since 1997 in both chief actuary and CUO roles. During his Markel tenure, he has supported significant, profitable and sustainable growth in the business through new products, new territories and numerous acquisitions, CFC said.

Over this period Markel has materially increased the volume and diversity of its portfolio, significantly improved its underwriting capabilities and grown its reputation for customer service across its international markets. An enthusiastic sponsor of diversity and inclusion activities, Line recently took over as chair of the Inclusion @ Lloyd’s committee. He currently sits on the LMA’s CUO Committee.

CFC explained that Markel has been a long-standing supporter of CFC, working materially across CFC’s MGA’s portfolio since 2019, notably on transaction liability and terrorism.

CFC’s chief performance officer, Matt Taylor, stepped up as CUO on an interim basis in February 2025.

Topics Underwriting