Exclusive: Rokstone enters UK & Ireland casualty with Convex's Goodearl

By Ryan Hewlett

May 8 - (The Insurer) Aventum Group-owned Rokstone has hired Lewis Goodearl from Convex to lead the launch and build-out of the specialty MGA’s new UK and Ireland casualty division.

Rokstone’s UK and Ireland casualty division is supported by A rated Lloyd’s capacity and its appetite comprises a broad portfolio of classes including employers' liability (EL), public liability (PL), casualty all risk and property.

Goodearl will join Rokstone after completing his notice period at Convex, bringing more than 30 years’ experience in casualty underwriting.

He latterly spent five years as senior underwriter for Convex and previously spent six years as head of UK & Ireland casualty at Axa XL and XL Catlin. Prior to that he served more than a decade at both Liberty Mutual and ACE Europe.

Goodearl is the latest arrival from Convex following Laurence Burrows, who joined Rokstone in August last year to head up the MGA’s new US excess casualty division, a move first revealed by The Insurer.

Ian Anson, Global CEO at Rokstone, said: “Expanding our casualty operations is a core part of our strategy this year for sound diversification, having already launched our US casualty division late last year.

“We continue to bring market-leading talent to Rokstone and Lewis is the latest in a number of stellar hires to Rokstone over the past few years who have been attracted by our exciting culture, market-leading technology and long-term committed capacity partners.”

Rokstone is one of the world’s largest MGAs, with offices in the UK, Europe, USA, Asia and the Middle East.

It currently underwrites more than 1.1 billion in GWP in several specialty lines including property; power generation; marine; aviation; warranty; credit and surety treaty; agriculture; construction and engineering; accident and health; contingency; liability, and sports and leisure.