Sompo Canopius Announces Management Changes
Sompo Canopius AG (“Sompo Canopius”) announces today that Stuart Davies is stepping down from his role as Group CEO and all other related responsibilities, effective immediately.
Stuart joined Sompo Canopius in 2015 with a mandate to lead the group through a period of change and has been very successful in doing so. He has charted a new course for Sompo Canopius as it works to fulfil its potential as part of Sompo Holdings, spearheading a renewed focus on profitability and agility.
Michael Watson, founder and currently Non-Executive Chairman of Sompo Canopius, will become Executive Chairman. He will be supported by Mike Duffy, Group Chief Underwriting Officer, and Paul Cooper, Group Chief Financial & Operating Officer.
Stuart Davies said, “It has been a pleasure to lead Sompo Canopius as Group CEO and I would like to thank everyone for their support and hard work. The team at Sompo Canopius is full of talented and knowledgeable people and I wish them all the best.”
Michael Watson said, “I would like to thank Stuart for his dedication to the success of Sompo Canopius since he joined in 2015. His commitment and enthusiasm have been evident from day one and he leaves the group in a strong position. The Board and I respect his decision to move on and we wish him every success in the future. At the same time, I have great confidence in Mike Duffy and Paul Cooper and the rest of our highly experienced management team. I look forward to working with them as we continue to build Sompo Canopius into a world-class global specialty (re)insurer.”
For further information please contact:
Caroline Klein,
Sompo Canopius
+44 20 3750 2815
David Haggie / Richard Adams,
Haggie Partners
+44 20 7562 4444
Biography:
Michael Watson
Michael is Chairman of Sompo Canopius. Michael joined the organisation in May 2001 and led a successful management buy-out in December 2003, as well as the Group’s sale to Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance in 2014. He serves as a member of The Council at Society of Lloyd’s, a Board member of the Lloyd’s Market Association and is a Chartered Accountant. Prior to joining the Group, Michael worked in London, Bermuda, New York and Ireland as a senior executive in a variety of non-life insurance and reinsurance businesses. Michael has more than 30 years’ experience in financial services industries in the UK and overseas, including commercial banking, trade finance, stock broking, investment banking, and life insurance, as well as general insurance.
Paul Cooper
Paul commenced his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers, holding audit and consulting roles in London, Australia and the US. In 2003 he joined EY as Senior Manager with responsibility for management and delivery of a variety of consulting projects and statutory audits. In 2006 he was appointed Finance Director for Hiscox Insurance with responsibility for the UK and European Retail business finance and management information function, including financial reporting, capital management and strategy/M&A. He re-joined EY in 2011 as the partner leading the specialty (re)insurance market segment. He was also a lead partner for a number of Lloyd’s and London Market financial audit engagements as well as handling marketing across the UK insurance practice. He is a Chartered Accountant. Paul joined Sompo Canopius in 2013 as Group Chief Financial Officer and was appointed Group Chief Financial & Operating Officer in 2016.
Mike Duffy
Mike commenced his career in 1980 and spent 20 years as a Lloyd’s broker, latterly with the Marsh Group of companies where he mainly specialised in placing Fortune 500 / large multi-national property business. He was a Managing Director with Guy Carpenter, running its Facultative Reinsurance division in New York, before moving into underwriting in late 2001. At that time he joined Ace Global Markets, with responsibility for underwriting its Direct & Facultative Property portfolio. He joined Sompo Canopius in January 2006 to form the Global Property Division, comprising Global Direct & Facultative Property and Crisis Management. He is now Group Chief Underwriting Officer and Active Underwriter for Syndicate 4444.