Hiscox appoints Group Head of Catastrophe Research

- London Market reinsurance team further boosted by addition of two trainee underwriters

London, UK (22 October) – Hiscox has appointed Dr. Richard Dixon as its Group Head of Catastrophe Research. In addition, the London Market reinsurance team has been further expanded with the recruitment of Jonathan Lord and Nick Orton as Trainee Underwriters for non-marine treaty business in the US and international respectively.

Richard Dixon, who reports to Rob Caton, obtained a PhD in Meteorology from Reading University in 1999, studying the processes that lead to severe European windstorms. He joined Risk Management Solutions in 2000 to help in understanding windstorm risk, building catastrophe models and in post-event response. Dixon subsequently worked in the catastrophe modelling teams at Benfield in 2006 and then Renaissance Re in 2010, specialising in catastrophe model evaluation in both roles.

Jonathan Lord joined Hiscox in September 2009 on the Hiscox Graduate Scheme, before moving on to the Marine and Energy Claims department. His new role will see him focus on non-marine treaty business in North America and the Caribbean.

Nick Orton, who will focus on international non-marine treaty business, joins from Ascot where he was a catastrophe modeller, with a focus on their reinsurance book. Prior to that role, he attended Lloyd’s graduate scheme. He worked in the underwriting performance and claims teams of the Corporation as well as an external placement with Ascot, as an underwriting assistant.

Commenting on the new appointments, Russell Merrett, Managing Director , Hiscox London Market, said: “We aim to be class leading in our understanding of Catastrophe Risk and, in Richard Dixon, we have expertise and a wealth of commercial experience that can help us deliver research and insights that will support our ambition. In addition, the appointments of Nick Orton and Jonathan Lord as Trainee Underwriters will further add to the strength in depth that we can offer our clients and broker partners.”

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About Hiscox

Hiscox, the international specialist insurer, is headquartered in Bermuda and listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:HSX). There are three main underwriting parts of the Group - Hiscox London Market, Hiscox UK and Europe and Hiscox International. Hiscox London Market underwrites internationally traded business in the London Market - generally large or complex business which needs to be shared with other insurers or needs the international licences of Lloyd's. Hiscox UK and Hiscox Europe offer a range of specialist insurance for professionals and business customers, as well as high net worth individuals. Hiscox International includes operations in Bermuda, Guernsey and USA. Hiscox Insurance Company Limited, Hiscox Underwriting Limited, Hiscox Europe Underwriting Limited and Hiscox Syndicates Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

For further information, visit www.hiscox.com.