People Moves: Ariel Re Taps Gallagher Re’s Sammons as Active U/W of Syndicate 2006; McLarens Appoints 2 Senior Leaders in Middle East

This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Ariel Re and McLarens.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

Ariel Re Taps Gallagher Re’s Sammons as Active Underwriter of Syndicate 2006

Ariel Re, the Bermuda-based reinsurer, announced the appointment of Richard Sammons as active underwriter of Syndicate 2006, following approval from Lloyd’s.

Sammons joins Ariel Re with nearly 30 years of experience across the Lloyd’s and global reinsurance markets, bringing extensive expertise in specialty underwriting, portfolio management and leadership.

He has held senior roles at Gallagher Re and Hamilton Re, most recently serving as head of Aerospace for Gallagher Re’s UK business. Prior to that, he spent a decade at Hamilton Re in Bermuda, rising to head of Specialty, a role in which he was instrumental in building a diversified specialty reinsurance portfolio.

In his new role, Sammons will lead Syndicate 2006, supporting Ariel Re’s continued focus on underwriting discipline and sustainable returns in its specialty reinsurance syndicate. Syndicate 2006 is a key component of Ariel Re’s Lloyd’s platform, complementing Syndicate 1910 and enhancing the group’s ability to deploy capital flexibly across property, casualty and specialty reinsurance lines.

“Richard is a highly-respected market leader with deep technical expertise and a proven track record in specialty reinsurance,” commented Darren Lednor, managing director, in a statement. “His disciplined underwriting approach, leadership experience and strong market relationships make him an excellent addition to Ariel Re. His appointment reflects our continued investment in Syndicate 2006 as we build a high quality, diversified underwriting platform capable of delivering sustainable returns.”

Ariel Re operates through Syndicates 1910 and 2006 at Lloyd’s of London and also offers access to Lloyd’s Europe.

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McLarens Appoints 2 Senior Leaders in Middle East

Global claims services provider McLarens announced two senior leadership appointments in the Middle East, reinforcing its commitment to long-term regional development.

McLarens has appointed Mahesh Ganesan as Operations Director – Middle East. In this newly created role, Ganesan will oversee regional operations, with a focus on improving efficiency and delivering a consistent, high-quality service for clients across the Middle East.

Ganesan joined McLarens in 2009 as an intern in the UK and has since built a career spanning technical, operational and leadership roles within the organization. He relocated to Dubai in 2024 and has played a central role in developing the Middle East business. His appointment reflects his deep understanding of McLarens’ operating model and his proven ability to lead teams and drive operational improvement.

McLarens has also appointed Ollie Waterman as commercial development director – Middle East. Waterman joins with extensive experience handling major and complex losses across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. He was previously head of property for the Middle East at an international loss-adjusting firm and brings market knowledge and technical expertise across a broad range of sectors.

In his new role, Waterman will lead commercial development across the region, with a focus on client engagement, service excellence and expanding McLarens’ presence across key markets.

Both based in Dubai, these appointments reflect McLarens’ ongoing investment in its Middle East operations, particularly as the region navigates geopolitical tensions and a complex and developing market environment.

“Mahesh’s journey through the business – from intern to operations director – and his extensive operational expertise make him ideally placed to lead our Middle East operations,” commented Steven Wallace, managing director, EMEA, at McLarens. “Ollie brings strong commercial insight and real technical credibility across the region. Together, they will be central to the continued development of our Middle East offering, and to ensuring we deliver the quality of service our clients expect.”

Topics Leadership A.J. Gallagher