UP CLOSE: Andreas Loucaides

Andreas Loucaides

LONDON-BASED CEO

International General Insurance Co. (UK) Ltd.

PREVIOUS POSITION: London-based director of underwriting for AmTrust at Lloyd's Ltd.

LOOKING FORWARD TO: (The) rating environment turning positive again.

GOALS FOR NEW POSITION: To raise the profile of IGI Group ... (to) continue with the growth of new teams and to provide more depth to our existing teams.

CHALLENGES FACING INDUSTRY: Excess capital. There is so much interest in the industry at the moment we could withstand a loss not previously ever experienced, and still more capital would flow in. Broker facilities underwritten on a portfolio basis play to the excess capital available forcing prices even lower.

FIRST INDUSTRY JOB: Reinsurance treaty broker at Lowndes Lambert.

ADVICE: My father always said work hard and always prepare yourself for whatever you are trying to achieve.

OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRY, A DREAM JOB: Football manager at West Ham.

HOBBIES: Golf (and) watching sports — especially my son Alex playing football and daughter Lois playing hockey and learning to play golf.

THING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME: I was born in Cyprus in a tiny village called Kharcha.

WHEN I RETIRE: Good health, family, good food and wine.

FAVORITE MEAL: Very much depends on my mood and weather, so anything from Asian to Italian, plus the occasional Greek salad.

FAVORITE BOOK: “Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien.

BEST CITY: London.

ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON: West Ham playing at home.

THOUGHTS ON SMARTPHONES: Good for work (and) pleasure, but not on holidays or meal times with the kids.

CAN'T-MISS TELEVISION SHOW: “Match of the Day.”