Connect with us
European Gaming Congress 2024

Fintech PR

Markel appoints Grant Smith to lead its Marine & Energy Liability team in International Specialty

Published

on

markel-appoints-grant-smith-to-lead-its-marine-&-energy-liability-team-in-international-specialty

LONDON, Aug. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Markel, the insurance operations within Markel Group (NYSE:MKL), today announced the appointment of Grant Smith as Director, Marine & Energy Liability, International Specialty, with immediate effect.

Smith’s appointment is the latest in a move to enhance Markel’s international specialty underwriting capabilities and expertise, following the launch of its International Specialty practice last December. 

In his new role, Smith will lead the Marine & Energy Liability team across Markel’s International Wholesale business. He will be responsible for driving sustainable, profitable growth initiatives that align with Markel’s long-term strategic vision, aiming to expand market share and further establish Markel as a market leader in Marine and Energy liabilities. He will also focus on strengthening relationships with key stakeholders and developing and nurturing existing underwriting talent. Smith will be based in London and report to Tom Hillier, Managing Director, International Specialty, at Markel.

Hillier commented: “Clients currently face a challenging environment, because of economic inflation and changes to regulatory and legal frameworks, combined with emerging technological and climate-related liability risks, making it increasingly important to ensure they have insurance cover that meets their evolving needs.

“When we established the Specialty practice within our International Wholesale business last year, we set out ambitious goals for our Marine & Energy Liability team, centered on the delivery of sustainable, profitable growth and establishing ourselves as a leader in the market in terms of underwriting and service.

“I’m therefore delighted to welcome Grant on board to lead our Marine & Energy liability team. I’m confident his background and experience will position him to lead the team to deliver on our ambitious goals for this class of business and provide a superior service proposition to our clients and brokers.”

Smith has extensive knowledge of the liability insurance market, having spent more than 17 years of his career working in various underwriting and leadership positions across this class of business. He joins Markel from QBE, where he was most recently Portfolio Manager Specialty, QBE European Operations – a role he held since 2014, with responsibility for managing an extensive portfolio of international marine business, including liability, hull and P&I classes. Prior to joining QBE as a Marine & Energy Liability Underwriter in 2011, Smith had spent five years working in various underwriting roles across marine and aviation at Travelers.

About Markel
We are Markel, a leading global specialty insurer with a truly people-first approach. As the insurance operations within the Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), we operate the Markel Specialty, Markel International, and Markel Global Reinsurance divisions, as well as State National, our portfolio protection and program services operations, and Nephila, our insurance-linked securities operations. Our broad array of capabilities and expertise allow us to create intelligent solutions for the most complex risk management needs. However, it is our people—and the deep, valued relationships they develop with colleagues, brokers and clients—that differentiates us worldwide.

Markel logo

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2482328/Grant_Smith.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2090808/Markel_primary_logo_Logo.jpg

Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/markel-appoints-grant-smith-to-lead-its-marine–energy-liability-team-in-international-specialty-302223312.html

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Fintech PR

Genstar Capital Increases Strategic Investment in Likewize, Acquires Majority Stake

Published

on

genstar-capital-increases-strategic-investment-in-likewize,-acquires-majority-stake

Investment Empowers Next Stage of Growth and Innovation for Global Leader in Tech Protection and Support

DALLAS, Oct. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Likewize, a leading global provider of tech protection and support, today announced that its existing investor, Genstar Capital (“Genstar”), has increased its investment in Likewize following its initial investment in March 2023. This significant investment makes Genstar the majority investor in Likewize and strengthens their commitment to fueling Likewize’s continued growth and mission to make every tech problem painless. Management and Brightstar Capital Partners (“Brightstar”) will remain minority investors in Likewize, ensuring continued leadership in driving the company forward.

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Dallas, TX, Likewize’s innovative approach is trusted by many of the world’s biggest brands, including telecommunications companies, financial institutions and retailers, to protect millions of customers from tech-related issues. The company handles over 250 million device issues annually, from warranty and repairs to upgrades and premium technical support.

Rod Millar, CEO of Likewize, commented, “Over the last five years, we’ve transformed into a global leader in tech protection and support. Genstar’s increased investment underscores their confidence in our vision and potential. With this deeper partnership, we can continue to push the boundaries of innovation and ensure our platform remains the industry leader. We are excited to expand our capabilities and feel well-positioned to capitalize on the vast market opportunities in the rapidly growing tech protection and support sectors.”

Since Genstar’s initial investment, Likewize has built significant momentum, growing its core business by more than 30%. Over the past 12 months, Likewize has added major partnerships with some of the world’s largest telecommunications carriers, retailers, and financial institutions and has expanded its footprint across Europe, enhancing its capabilities and market presence.

Ryan Clark, President and Managing Partner at Genstar, said, “We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Rod and the entire Likewize team, as well as Brightstar, as we’ve witnessed firsthand the company’s exceptional growth over the first 19 months of Genstar’s investment. This enhanced commitment to Likewize comes at a pivotal moment, delivering the support and capital for Likewize to continue delivering exceptional customer value and achieve its full growth potential.”

Andrew Weinberg, Founder and CEO of Brightstar, said: “We are proud of Likewize’s growth and transformation during our ownership period and the company’s success in becoming a global leader in tech protection and support. We look forward to continuing to work with Genstar and the management team and remain confident in Likewize’s future prospects and market leadership in this dynamic industry.”

The increased strategic investment from Genstar will allow Likewize to focus on accelerating adoption of added value solutions such as AI-driven claims handling and expanded premium tech support, ensuring it maintains its reputation for the industry’s best customer experience, commercials and technology.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Likewize
When your tech goes wrong, Likewize makes it right. Likewize offers the most comprehensive protection against any technology disruption. Whether a device is lost, stolen, damaged, malfunctioning, in need of an upgrade, or is in need of general troubleshooting, Likewize provides the solution. Trusted by the world’s largest brands including, telecommunications companies, financial institutions and retailers. Likewize operates in over 30 countries, resolving 250 million problems each year across insurance, warranty, repairs, trade-ins, recycling, and premium tech support. For more information, please visit: www.likewize.com

Advertisement

About Genstar Capital
Genstar Capital (www.gencap.com) is a leading private equity firm that has been actively investing in high-quality companies for over 30 years. Based in San Francisco, Genstar works in partnership with its management teams and its network of strategic advisors to transform its portfolio companies into industry-leading businesses. Genstar currently has approximately $49 billion of assets under management and targets investments focused on targeted segments of the financial services, industrials, software, and healthcare industries.

About Brightstar Capital Partners
Brightstar Capital Partners is a middle market private equity firm focused on investing in industrial, manufacturing, and services businesses where Brightstar believes it can drive significant value with respect to the management, operations, and strategic direction of the business. Brightstar employs an operationally intensive “Us & Us” approach that leverages its extensive experience and relationship network to help companies reach their full potential. For more information, please visit www.brightstarcp.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2537158/Likewize_Logo.jpg

Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/genstar-capital-increases-strategic-investment-in-likewize-acquires-majority-stake-302283491.html

Continue Reading

Fintech PR

AIMed 2024: A Pioneer in Healthcare Innovation to Join Key AI in Medicine Event

Published

on

aimed-2024:-a-pioneer-in-healthcare-innovation-to-join-key-ai-in-medicine-event

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Frost & Sullivan proudly announce that Reenita Das, Partner and Senior Vice President of Healthcare & Life Sciences, will attend the highly anticipated AIMed 2024 Global Summit. The event, held from November 17 – 19, 2024, 2024, will bring together healthcare leaders and AI innovators from across the globe at Caribe Royale Orlando to discuss the transformative impact of artificial intelligence in healthcare.

Reenita will serve as Co-Chair and Kickoff Speaker for the “AI and Its Impact on Women’s HealthTech” track on Monday, November 18. This track is an educational program organized by Dr. Anthony Chang, Reenita Das, and Harry P. Pappas, founder of the Women’s Health and Wellness Society, an educational and advocacy group for women. Pappas is also the founder of the Intelligent Health Association and has collaborated with Frost & Sullivan for over 15 years.

AIMed 2024 is the premier global event for artificial intelligence in healthcare, providing an ideal platform for industry experts like Reenita Das to share insights on leveraging AI to enhance healthcare systems and transform clinical workflows. Attendees will benefit from keynote speeches, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities with top professionals worldwide.

“I’m thrilled to be part of AIMed 2024, where we will explore the critical role AI plays in addressing global healthcare challenges and improving patient outcomes,” said Reenita Das. “This summit represents an opportunity for healthcare leaders to share their vision and collaborate on advancing the future of medicine.”

Frost & Sullivan’s strategic involvement in AIMed 2024 further highlights its commitment to fostering innovation and growth in healthcare. With a unique blend of AI and healthcare technology expertise, Reenita Das will contribute to impactful discussions on applying AI-driven solutions for real-world healthcare challenges.

Why This Partnership Matters: 

AIMed24 is committed to building long-term partnerships with key organizations that share its vision of improving healthcare through AI. Frost & Sullivan’s expertise in identifying growth opportunities and their forward-looking approach to industry trends makes them an ideal partner. Together, AIMed24 and Frost & Sullivan will deliver a unique, high-value experience for attendees, ensuring they leave equipped with actionable strategies and insights to drive AI innovation in healthcare.

About Frost & Sullivan

For over six decades, Frost & Sullivan has guided the world’s top companies toward transformational growth journeys that result in a stream of innovative growth opportunities. Frost’s Growth Pipeline as a Service (GPaaS) value proposition allows customers to maximize their economic potential, navigate emerging megatrends, and shape a future based on sustainable growth. Learn more.

About AIMed24

Advertisement

AIMed24 is where AI and medicine’s brightest minds converge to shape the future of healthcare. Join us at the Caribe Royale Orlando from November 17-19 for groundbreaking keynotes, hands-on workshops, and exceptional networking opportunities with industry leaders. Founded by Dr. Anthony Chang, AIMed is a clinician-led community advancing AI in health. AIMed24 will showcase impactful smart healthcare solutions, facilitate connections with AI trailblazers, and engage with top institutions and innovators. Be at the forefront of healthcare innovation. Learn more.

Media Contact:
María Briceño
[email protected]

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/aimed-2024-a-pioneer-in-healthcare-innovation-to-join-key-ai-in-medicine-event-302283393.html

Continue Reading

Fintech PR

Ascenda transforms economics for financial institutions with new loyalty-as-a-service offering

Published

on

ascenda-transforms-economics-for-financial-institutions-with-new-loyalty-as-a-service-offering

NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Ascenda, the world’s most connective rewards ecosystem, today announced the launch of its new loyalty-as-a-service offering. The groundbreaking model challenges established industry norms and maximizes business outcomes for financial institutions through effortless access to scalable, aspirational rewards propositions that deliver outsized returns.

For decades, companies who provide rewards technology and content have operated on a vendor model that leaves them uninvested in their clients’ success. The onus has been squarely on financial institutions to procure the right loyalty marketing ingredients and put them to use in a way that generates ROI – often with mixed results. Ascenda now shifts that paradigm by delivering loyalty as a partner, not as a supplier.

The new loyalty-as-a-service offering transforms marketing economics for financial institutions with an outcome-centric partnership model composed of: 

  • Holistic ecosystem access: Ascenda’s full suite of proven technology and compelling lifestyle content is accessible effortlessly in one place. This marks the first time in the industry that all the puzzle pieces needed for high-ROI loyalty marketing are seamlessly unified, from trigger-based campaigns to unforgettable customer experiences.
                                                                           
  • Easy zero-cost entry: brands can choose to leverage the full solution suite or start using just specific components – always without setup costs or platform fees. This removes all barriers, enabling financial institutions to move faster in bringing new customer propositions to market.
                                                                           
  • Results-based commercials: Ascenda charges only for content and growth outcomes actually delivered. This mitigates the financial risk of adopting a loyalty solution and means Ascenda is deeply invested in achieving measurable client results.                                        

“Our new loyalty-as-a-service offering is revolutionary for banks and fintechs globally,” said Kyle Armstrong, CEO at Ascenda. “For many brands, rewards cost is one of the biggest expense lines on the P&L, yet they are dissatisfied with the return on that investment. We are changing the game with a shift from delivering loyalty software to delivering loyalty ROI. Our new model makes things effortless and truly aligns incentives, unlocking step-change economics.”

The new offering is now available to financial institutions that onboard with Ascenda and progressively being rolled out across the existing client base.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1948326/Ascenda_Blue_Logo.jpg

Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ascenda-transforms-economics-for-financial-institutions-with-new-loyalty-as-a-service-offering-302283332.html

Continue Reading

Trending