Rokstone hires duo to bolster actuarial and underwriting propositions

Rokstone hires duo to bolster actuarial and underwriting propositions | Insurance Business America

Insurance News

Rokstone hires duo to bolster actuarial and underwriting propositions

New hires form integral part of ongoing strategy

Insurance News

By
Kenneth Araullo

International specialty re/insurance MGA Rokstone has announced the appointment of Martin Thomas (pictured above, left) as head of underwriting management and Stuart Lee (pictured above, right) as chief actuary.

The appointments are part of Rokstone’s strategy to enhance decision-making and operational efficiency across its business operations.

Stuart Lee joins Rokstone from Markel, where he served as chief actuary, bringing 14 years of experience within the actuarial function. Prior to his time at Markel, Lee held positions as an actuary and economic analyst at KPMG and the Bank of England.

In his new role as chief actuary at Rokstone, Lee will lead and develop the MGA’s in-house reserving and pricing functions, aiming to integrate technical expertise with both underwriting and claims processes to support Rokstone’s internal and external decision-making.

Commenting on his new role, Lee said he is pleased to join Rokstone, noting the company’s distinctive culture that values talent and expertise without elitism.

“It also has a highly collaborative approach and a refreshing desire to make the actuarial team part of front office decision making. I’m excited to be building out Rokstone’s actuarial capabilities to ensure we continue to deliver superior outcomes for carriers as we grow,” Lee said.

Martin Thomas, who has taken on the role of head of underwriting management, comes from Probitas where he held the same position. His experience includes underwriting management and business transformation roles at StarStone Insurance, Willis, and Occam Underwriting.

Thomas’s responsibilities at Rokstone will include overseeing underwriting management, operational control, governance frameworks, risk monitoring, regulatory compliance, and business change management.

“It’s a unique business, and it needs a unique underwriting framework to match. I am working from a foundation of excellence, but as a problem solver and solution designer I know there is always a better way of doing things – something Rokstone lives by too,” Thomas said.

Ian Anson, managing director at Rokstone, remarked that Lee brings substantial expertise and technical discipline to lead the company’s reserving and pricing functions.

He also acknowledged Thomas’s strong background in underwriting management, which will be crucial in maintaining high service standards for clients and markets.

Anson also emphasised Rokstone’s commitment to acting as a “virtual insurer” with the infrastructure of a balance sheet insurer, dedicated to protecting the capital of its partner insurers.

He noted that these senior appointments reflect Rokstone’s commitment to maintaining a robust underwriting agency that partners can trust with their capital, furthering the company’s ambition to become a leading (re)insurance MGA globally.

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