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Top London underwriters named

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Top London underwriters named

Dominick Hoare, an energy underwriter at Watkins syndicate 457, and Mark Pepper, a reinsurance underwriter at Ascot Underwriting Ltd., have been voted the leading underwriters in the London insurance market by underwriters and brokers, respectively, an industry researcher said Wednesday.

London-based Gracechurch Consulting Ltd. asked 450 London market brokers and 200 London market underwriters to nominate the leading underwriters. The study ran from November 2014 to May 2015.

Mr. Hoare, joint active underwriter and group energy underwriting manager at Watkins syndicate 457, which is managed by Munich Re Underwriting Ltd., was ranked as the leading underwriter as nominated by underwriters and ranked second among nominations by brokers.

Mr. Pepper, chief underwriting officer at Ascot, was ranked the leading underwriter by brokers.

Other underwriters ranked in the top 10 by their peers were: Stephen Hawkins, an energy underwriter at XL Catlin; Tim Prifti, an accident and health underwriter at Tokio Marine Kiln Group Ltd.; Clive Washbourn, a marine underwriter at Beazley P.L.C.; Bill Halligan, an aviation underwriter at Liberty Specialty Markets; Jonathan Gray, a property underwriter at Beazley; Graham Hawkins, a specie and fine art underwriter at XL Catlin; Philip Sandle, a marine underwriter at Beazley; Peter Wakefield, an aviation and space underwriter at Chaucer Syndicates Ltd.; and Simon Jackson, a property underwriter at Beazley.

Brokers' other nominations to the top 10 were: Richard Trubshaw, reinsurance underwriter at Managing Agency Partners Ltd.; Nick Kilhams, war and geopolitical risks underwriter at Chaucer; James Bamford, war and geopolitical risks underwriter at Talbot Underwriting Ltd.; Chris Jones, casualty and nonmarine liability underwriter at Tokio Marine Kiln; Richard Golder, marine underwriter at XL Catlin; Beazley's Mr. Washbourn; Bob Mellor, property reinsurance underwriter at Amlin P.L.C.; and XL Catlin's Graham Hawkins.

According to Gracechurch's research, the underwriter characteristics that matter most to underwriters are knowledge, consistency and reputation.

Brokers rated experience, commerciality and reputation and trust as the most important characteristics for underwriters.

“All our research suggests that the talented underwriter is key to success for an insurer — but that success lies not just in having one 'hired gun' but in building a high-performing underwriting team,” said Ben Bolton, CEO of Gracechurch, in a statement.

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