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Biba 2026: QBE focused on construction and multinational growth - Nat Ferrigan. 'It's about building on that regional trade and taking our client conversations to the next level,' says insurer's head of distribution QBE is doubling down on its strategy to serve brokers in the regions and is accelerating the build out of its construction and multinational business. That is according to QBE Europe's head of distribution, Nat Ferrigan, who spoke to Insurance Times for the Biba conference in Manchester this week (13-14 May 2026). QBE has made a series of hires in its distribution, underwriting and client teams as part of a deliberate push to increase visibility with broker partners at a time when some competitors are pulling back, she explained. "While others are perhaps looking to rationalise some of their teams in distribution, underwriting and clients, we have had and will continue to have some really good investment and hires," Ferrigan said, adding that new staff are joining as additional staff rather than as replacements. Construction and multinational have been identified as two key growth pillars under the insurer's UK 2030 strategy. QBE hired Tim Bluck and Richard Sheridan in November last year to lead proposition development across both areas, spanning trade and SME risks through to contractors combined in the mid-market and larger construction clients. The company is also exploring schemes and facilities with broker partners as part of a broader move into "alternative distribution" that does not conflict with its existing panel relationships "We've always had a really good offering in construction. It's just taking it to the next level now based on what customers want, because the world moves on, risks change and people's needs change," Ferrigan added. Broker service. Service is also focused on regional development and Ferrigan noted that QBE appointed heads of trading in each of its regional hubs at the end of 2024. That regional focus is set to be supplemented in the second half of 2026 with the planned launch of an algorithmic underwriting solution for network partners, covering commercial combined and fleet. Ferrigan said the product was designed to plug the gap for risks that fall outside QBE's digital trade offering while not large enough for its regional underwriting footprint. "If it doesn't fit down the trade pipe and it doesn't fit in the regional space, there is another solution," she said, clarifying that the product is currently in its planning phase. On service for brokers, Ferrigan pointed to a series of operational improvements in claims as evidence of QBE's commitment to consistency in what she described as a "dynamic" and softening market. She said the insurer had achieved 100% of claims registered and acknowledged within 24 hours and reduced average telephone waiting times from 47 seconds to 13 seconds, with a 0% phone abandonment rate. Ferrigan said broker sentiment surveys were vital for QBE and that feedback directly informs strategic decisions, with brokers' desire for direct access to underwriting decision-makers as one of the clearest themes. "One of the things they call us out for is creating that platform for empowered conversations," she said. "Brokers want to talk to decision makers who are underwriters." She also flagged consolidation and panel rationalisation among brokers as a notable trend, noting that QBE was seeing broker partners take a more robust approach to their placement partner strategies, including removing insurers from panels. "People are now being removed from panels, so they are really robust with their partner placement strategy," she said, adding that QBE's focus on depth of relationship, rather than breadth of distribution, makes it well-placed to retain panel positions. "The message has been consistent for the last two or three years," she finished. "It's about building on that regional trade and taking our client conversations to the next level." Yiannis is editor at Insurance Times and the winner of 2023's Most Promising Newcomer and 2024's Story of the Year prizes at the Biba Media and Journalism Awards. With a particular interest in regulation, technology, innovation and political stories, he has covered issues from the multioccupancy buildings scandal to the insurance implications of quantum computing and the growth of new markets. View full Profile Topics. Register for free and gain access to more award-winning coverage by Insurance Times More news. No comments yet. You're not signed in. Keep informed Part of the Insurance and Risk group of Newsquest Specialist Media Published by Newsquest Media Group Limited, registered in England & Wales with number 01676637 at The Echo Building, 18 Albert Road, Bournemouth, England, BH1 1BZ - a USA Today company

PARIMA and QBE Insurance open applications for Next-Gen Risk Takers Mumbai stop. PARIMA, the Pan-Asia Risk and Insurance Management Association, opens applications for the Mumbai stop of its 2026 Next-Gen Risk Takers (NGRT) challenge, held in partnership with QBE Insurance. The 2026 programme expands to six cities across the region, including Hong Kong, Taipei, Manila, Mumbai, Penang, and Beijing. The Mumbai stop is scheduled for 12 June 2026 during the PARIMA Mumbai Conference. Applications for this leg close on 23 April 2026 and are open to emerging risk professionals who will be physically attending the event. The NGRT challenge is a public-speaking competition where finalists share a risk-related story in seven minutes without visual aids, followed by a Q&A session with judges and the audience. Winners from each city stop win a trip to the PARIMA Singapore Conference in October 2026 to compete in the first-ever NGRT Grand Final, where one contestant will be crowned the Ultimate Next-Gen Risk Taker. Commenting on the launch, PARIMA says: "This is YOUR chance to shine! Contend with two other finalists and come out on top in the NGRT Mumbai stop to win yourself a trip to the PARIMA Singapore Conference and compete in the NGRT Grand Final later in the year." PARIMA is a non-profit professional association for risk managers in Asia. The organisation aims to strengthen and enhance the culture of risk management by creating opportunities for education and dialogue within the community. The NGRT initiative forms part of the association's mission to nurture the next generation of risk talent. For the captive insurance industry, which depends on a pipeline of specialised risk management expertise and alternative risk leadership, such programmes are seen as vital for long-term industry resilience. Interested applicants can submit an application to [email protected] or through the official PARIMA website.

People moves: HW Kaufman Group Names Hattaway President of RB Jones; Rokstone Hires QBE North America Casualty Leader Lill. March 17, 2026 HW Kaufman Group Names Hattaway President of RB Jones RB Jones, a managing general underwriter providing specialty risk coverage solutions for brokers, agents and wholesalers, named Michael Hattaway as president. He will be based in New York City and report to H.W. Kaufman Group Co-President Jodie Kaufman Davis. Hattaway will oversee RB Jones underwriting operations and expand relationships with clients and insurance company partners while driving business growth within the marine, energy, property and professional liability sectors. Before joining RB Jones, Hattaway spent nearly eight years at Scion Underwriting Managers. Previously, Hattaway held senior leadership roles at Hallmark Financial Services, Liberty International and W.R. Berkley's Facultative Resources. Rokstone Hires QBE North America Casualty Leader Lill Rokstone, the international specialty (re)insurance MGA, has appointed Claire Lill as senior underwriter, North American Casualty. Lill will join Rokstone from QBE, where she most recently served as portfolio manager, U.S. Casualty, at QBE Europe. She has over three decades of underwriting experience across the London and international Casualty markets, having held senior underwriting and leadership roles at Apollo Syndicate 1969, Argo Group International Holdings, Liberty International Underwriters and Zurich Insurance Company Ltd. At Rokstone, Claire will work closely with the firm's North American Casualty leadership to expand its underwriting capabilities and support the continued growth of the MGA's Casualty portfolio. Was this article valuable? Interested in Casualty? Get automatic alerts for this topic.