Senior Leadership Appointments

CIRCULAR REF: 2019/013

CIRCULATED TO ALL MEMBERS, BROKERS AND DIRECTORS

As part of our ongoing succession planning and strategic development we are pleased to announce a number of changes which will strengthen our Senior Leadership Team.

With effect from 1 June 2019, Savraj Mehta has been appointed as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) with specific responsibility for assisting with delivery of North’s commercial strategy and market development.  Savraj has been with North since 1995 and prior to this he spent 12 years at sea becoming a Master, before working onshore as a Marine Superintendent and Operations Manager.

Also effective from 1 June 2019, Thya Kathiravel has been appointed as Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) subject to regulatory approval, for both North and Sunderland Marine (SMI).  Thya has been with North since 1996 and prior to this he practised as an Advocate and Solicitor in Singapore for four years and was also admitted to the English Bar.  Thya represents North on the International Group Reinsurance Sub-Committee.

Supporting Thya in his new role are Stephen Rebair and Simon Main who have been appointed as Deputy Global Directors (Underwriting) from 1 June 2019.  Steve has been at North since 1997 after qualifying and practising as a Solicitor; he initially joined North’s P&I claims team before transferring to the Underwriting team.  Steve is also Chairman of the Combined Group of War Risks Associations (CGWRA).

Simon joined North in 2018 after a career spanning three decades in the P&I and mutual insurance world, most recently he was Chief Operating Officer at the UK Club.  Simon will be providing operational underwriting support to North and SMI as well as overseeing the continued development of North’s underwriting strategy.

In the area of P&I claims, Mike Salthouse and Matt Moore as Deputy Global Directors (Claims) are taking on greater responsibility from Global Claims Director Andrew Taylor for the day to day delivery of North’s P&I claims service.  Mike has been with North since 1992, previously acting as a Solicitor and joining North initially as part of the FD&D leadership team, before setting up our very successful office in Greece in 2000.  Mike is actively involved in many areas on behalf of the International Group and in particular is Chairman of the important Sanctions Sub-Committee.  Matt is a hugely experienced Lawyer, who originally worked for North in Newcastle and Hong Kong from 1995 to 2001 and returned to North in 2014 after a number of years practising law most recently as a partner with Ince & Co.  Matt has also been actively involved with the International Group, in particular in relation to salvage, admiralty and large claims issues.

In FD&D, Steven Cockburn has recently been appointed as Deputy Global Director (FD&D) to support Katherine Birchall in the management of our growing FD&D business. Steven is a solicitor with significant legal experience, having worked for Clifford Chance and Barlow, Lyde & Gilbert in London, before joining North in 2005. Steven is also actively involved with the International Group and is Chairman of the Compulsory Insurances Sub-committee (CISC).

At the end of May, Alan Wilson retired as an Executive Director and left North after 38 years of service.  Alan was Joint Managing Director from 2009 until 2018.   Ed Davies (Chief Financial Officer) has therefore been appointed as an Executive Director of both North and SMI subject to regulatory approval.  Alan Wilson has been hugely important in the success of North and he was instrumental in establishing North’s financial rigour as well as driving a culture of service and quality, which are still the foundations of North’s successful development today.

We are confident that the very considerable combined experience, expertise and commitment of the enhanced Leadership Team will continue to successfully take North forward and deliver our strategy.

PAUL JENNINGS
CHIEF EXECUTIVE / EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The North of England P&I Association Limited / North of England P&I DAC