People Moves: Allianz Commercial Appoints Nguyen-Huu, Lascar and Head for Portfolio Solutions Team; Canopius Promotes Pinnington as Head of Marine & Energy Treaty

This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Allianz Commercial and Canopius Group.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

Allianz Commercial Names Nguyen-Huu, Lascar and Head for Portfolio Solutions Team

Allianz Commercial announced appointments in its Portfolio Solutions segment, focusing on its strategic relationships with managing general agents (MGAs) and other delegated underwriting authority partners. Doan Nguyen-Huu will be appointed as global head of Portfolio Solutions with effect from Aug.1, 2025, succeeding Claudia Valencia Lascar who leaves Allianz as of Sept. 30.

Daniel Head is joining Allianz Commercial in the UK as head of Delegated Authority and Portfolio Solutions, UK Global and International markets, from September 1.

Portfolio Solutions covers the important delegated authority segment where Allianz Commercial partners with MGAs or other third parties who act on Allianz Commercial’s behalf to market and service specialist insurance products within agreed authorities.

Nguyen-Huu, currently head of Specialty, Regional Unit London, will lead the Portfolio Solutions team out of London, reporting to Vanessa Maxwell, chief underwriting officer at Allianz Commercial. Nguyen-Huu joined Allianz in 2013, having previously worked in claims roles in other companies. Since then, she has worked in a range of different claims, underwriting, transformation, and leadership positions in London and Munich, including head of CEO Office, taking up her latest specialty leadership role in January 2024.

Daniel Head joins Allianz Commercial from RSA where he was head of Partnerships. He has over 18 years’ experience in underwriting and claims at RSA, with the last 10 years focused on managing delegated authority business. He will also be based in London, reporting to Nguyen-Huu.

Following this appointment and as announced earlier this month, Allianz Commercial now has three global leaders in place, focusing on three key customer segments across its portfolio: Elke Vagenende for clients, Tom Leonard for brokers, and Doan Nguyen-Huu for Portfolio Solutions, supported by global and local distribution teams.

“Portfolio Solutions is an important and fast-growing segment in our business. Partnerships with MGAs allow us to serve a wider range of customers across a variety of specialist products, making full use of Allianz’s capabilities and underwriting portfolio,” commented Maxwell. “I am delighted that Doan is leading our strategy here, and I welcome Daniel on board as we further develop our business in this segment.”

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Canopius Promotes Pinnington as Head of Marine & Energy Treaty

Canopius Group, the specialty and property/casualty re/insurer, announced the promotion of Ben Pinnington to head of Marine & Energy Treaty, effective July 7, 2025, and the appointment of Imogen Wright as underwriter – Marine & Energy Treaty, effective Oct. 13, 2025.

Pinnington commenced his insurance career as a graduate in 2018, starting as an underwriting assistant in the Political Risk team at AmTrust Syndicate 1861. After Canopius acquired Syndicate 1861, he transitioned into treaty reinsurance and steadily advanced, becoming an underwriter for Marine & Energy Treaty in 2021.

In addition to Pinnington’s promotion, Canopius has appointed Wright to the Marine & Energy Treaty team. Wright from Guy Carpenter, where she served as a vice president for over three years. Prior to that, she spent five years in the marine underwriting team at Ascot Group, before joining Miller Insurance Services LLP as a reinsurance broker in 2019. Her broad experience across broking, underwriting, and operations brings valuable insight and capability to the team.

Canopius also thanked Claire Wallace, who will be leaving the business, for her contributions to the Marine & Energy Treaty portfolio.

Topics Commercial Lines Allianz