Convex overtakes LSM in aviation UW; Atrium’s Cullen receives top individual spot

Specialty carrier Convex has ousted Liberty Specialty Markets (LSM) from its two-year run as the bench strength leader in the London’s Leading Underwriters ranking for aviation and space underwriting.

The ranking is a peer nomination-based survey conducted by Insurindex, a joint venture between insurance research consultancy Gracechurch and Brandex.

Last year’s dominating champion LSM, who boasted the top three individual underwriter spots, dropped to joint fifth with Starr in terms of bench strength rating.

Representing the incumbent leading team, new entrant Paul Cooper – who has served as deputy head of aerospace at Convex since November 2021 – took second place in the individual shortlist.

Atrium’s head of aviation Alex Cullen clinched this year’s top spot in London’s individual aviation and space underwriter ranking, while Atrium shared third place in the overall team rankings with Global Aerospace.

This marked a significant improvement for the latter, who did not feature in the top 10 shortlist last year.

In addition, Global Aerospace’s general aviation underwriting manager Reece Vowles featured in the top five for this year’s individual aviation underwriter in London.

Third place in the individual rankings was awarded to Nigel Griffiths, who has served as regional head of general aviation at Chubb since December 2018.

Chubb saw a consistently strong performance in the class, also taking second place in the bench strength ratings.

The top five shortlist was rounded off with Andy Trundle, global head of aviation and chief underwriting officer at Starr.

The Insurer has examined the Insurindex report throughout this week, beginning with the news that Arch’s head of casualty James Mecham had topped this year’s overall ranking of leading London underwriters.

Mecham also took the top spot in the casualty and non-marine liability class, where Arch placed second in the bench strength ratings.

Casualty bench strength leader Ascot saw both Ben Galloway and David Fitzpatrick feature in the top five for individual London underwriters.

Unsurprisingly, the succeeding top five overall underwriters after Mecham also placed first in their respective classes.

Tokio Marine Kiln’s Paul Gooch debuted at second in the overall London underwriter list, also taking first spot in his class of cyber. Gooch was appointed divisional head of large account cyber at the carrier in May.

Elsewhere, MAP underwriter Richard Trubshaw was named leading individual underwriter for the reinsurance class for a record-breaking fourth consecutive year, having also placed third in the overall rankings for 2023.

David Kirk, head of marine at Chubb Global Market, retained top position for marine for the third consecutive year, with the overall Chubb marine team placing second in the class.

Kirk had also placed fourth in this year’s overall ranking of London underwriters.

And Talbot Underwriting’s head of international property Ollie Richards topped the property class rankings, having also featured as fifth in the overall ranking.

To download the full report click here.