Specialty managing general agent (MGA) Optio Group has announced the appointment of Insi Davenport to the newly created executive role of group chief risk officer (CRO), effective immediately.

ACORD Solutions Group, an extension of ACORD, the standards-setting body for the global insurance industry, has partnered with insurance technology provider Ping to create a Property statement of values (SOVs) extraction and global exposure technology solution for carriers, MGAs and brokers.

There has been a surge in new specialty carrier launches since 2018, many established to take advantage of an attractive pricing environment and the perceived growth of permanent niche underwriting opportunities, according to a recent study by ALIRT.

Gallagher Bassett, a provider of risk and claims management services and a wholly owned subsidiary of brokerage Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., has announced the appointment of Ajay Sinha as Managing Director — Captive Practice.

The Fidelis Partnership (TFP), a privately-owned managing general underwriter (MGU), has announced the appointment of Andrew Sleeman as Head of Investor Relations.

Global insurance brokerage WTW has announced the appointment of Xabier Gallardo as Senior Director of Client Relationship Management within the Natural Resources division of Corporate Risk and Broking, North America (CRB NA).

Cyber risk solutions firm Resilience, with the support of Accredited Insurance, has introduced coverage for Technology Errors and Omissions (Tech E&O) for clients with more than £50 million or €25 million in annual revenue in the UK and Europe, respectively.

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a $6 million grant to the African Risk Capacity (ARC) to strengthen disaster preparedness and risk financing efforts across Africa for the 2025–2026 period.