Odyssey adds deputy CUO roles to OdysseyRe and Newline Group in London

By Rebecca Delaney

June 4 - (The Insurer) - Fairfax Financial's Odyssey Group Holdings has bolstered its London underwriting capabilities with the appointment of deputy chief underwriting officers at both OdysseyRe and Newline Group.

OdysseyRe has named Matthew Sheppard to the newly created role of deputy CUO for its London branch, the company said on Wednesday.

In his new role, Sheppard will work with CUO Andre-Francois Rocque to oversee OdysseyRe’s London market reinsurance business.

Sheppard joined OdysseyRe in 2010, and has led the property treaty and retrocession unit since 2017.

Also on Wednesday, Newline Group announced that John Driscoll has been named deputy CUO (also a newly created position), where he will work with Newline CUO Andy Pecover to lead Newline’s underwriting performance globally.

Driscoll assumed leadership of Newline's financial institutions team in June 2015. He is succeeded in this role by senior underwriter, Caroline Smith.

Newline Group is a specialty insurance group that operates through three underwriting platforms: Newline Syndicate 1218, Newline Insurance Company Limited and Newline Europe Versicherung AG.

Newline is part of Odyssey Group Holdings, a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings, alongside OdysseyRe and Hudson Insurance Group.