Descartes Underwriting names Luce as Head of Strategy & New Business
Descartes Underwriting, the parametric insurance and data-driven risk transfer specialist managing general agency (MGA), has named former Chief of Staff Marlène Luce to take on the new role of Head of Strategy & New Business, as leader of a newly formed department.
As Descartes Underwriting continues to expand its parametric focused risk transfer business, the company recognises that growth must be sustained with diversification and so new business development remains critical.
The company has already secured geographic diversification across international territories, with 13 international hubs launched in 9 countries, largely under the watch of Luce and Descartes’ strategy team.
The focus now is to “identify new growth drivers that will further support Descartes’ product diversification,” the company told Artemis.
Explaining, “This includes developing and deploying new parametric products in the emerging risk space, for example, via a cyber offering for corporates, including manufacturers and industrials, in the coming months.”
It also involves expansion in product lines offered, with Descartes saying that, “We aim to provide cover beyond climate-driven risks, meeting the needs of an even greater proportion of exposed corporations and governments.”
As a result, the firm has set up a dedicated department, Strategy & New Business, which Marlène Luce will now lead to identify and launch the new products and initiatives that can drive growth.
Luce commented on her now position, “Over the last 3 years, I have contributed towards Descartes’ international expansion and the French Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority (ACPR) process in obtaining approval for the establishment of Descartes Insurance; therefore, I am very excited to step into this new role and help Descartes achieve more milestones.”
The company intends to hire additional people over the coming months to join the Strategy & New Business department.
In addition, Descartes Underwriting told us that Marie-Anne Faidy, previously the Business Strategy Lead at the firm, has been promoted to replace Luce as Chief of Staff.
An employee for roughly one year at Descartes, Faidy’s knowledge of its strategy and operations will enable her to support CEO Tanguy Touffut in overseeing daily operations, prioritising business needs and managing interactions with key stakeholders, the company said.
