Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. announced Thursday that Richard Allen, formerly a vice president at Axis Insurance Company, will join Endurance’s London office to head its international professional lines business.

Allen, who takes the title Executive Vice President in his new role, has nearly 20 years experience, including a series of underwriting and management roles in the international professional lines market with a focus on financial institutions.

He will report to Graham Evans, who joined Endurance in 2013 as Chief Executive Officer of International Insurance.

Allen’s responsibilities will include Endurance`s International Professional Indemnity, Financial Institutions and Commercial D&O lines of business.

In a statement about the appointment, Evans noted that Endurance is looking to expand its international operation to include additional specialty lines. He also cited Allen’s extensive network of broker contacts in the London, European, Australian and South African markets.

At Axis, Allen was Senior Vice President and International Financial Institutions Manager.

Prior to that, he held various Professional Liability underwriting and management roles over a period of twelve years with Novae Syndicates Limited.

He started his career as a Financial Institutions underwriter at Chubb Insurance Company of Europe.

Source: Endurance Specialty Holdings