Sompo International Holdings Ltd has appointed insurance industry veteran Sarah Spurling to lead its Professional Lines business unit in Bermuda.

The Bermudian-based speciality provider of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance said Ms Spurling takes over from Forbes Geekie, who is retiring from Sompo International.

She will have responsibility for the three segments within Professional Lines: Commercial, Bermuda Sompo Pro and Financial Institutions.

Richard Allen, EVP, Professional Lines International Insurance said: “Our Professional Lines team in Bermuda is a market-leader, combining a diverse and mature portfolio with a broad product offering and global reach.

“Sarah’s appointment is a testament to the talent we have here at Sompo International and our ability to promote talent from within the organisation to senior leadership roles.

“Sarah will focus on further developing our business by strengthening existing client relationships and forging new ones by offering long-term, stable capacity and bespoke solutions, including Bermuda-specific products, such as Cyber and Side A DIC coverage.

“She will also work closely with our broking partners to further enhance key distribution channels in Bermuda, the US and London.”

The company said Ms Spurling has spent her underwriting career at Sompo International, which she joined in 2005.

She currently leads the Sompo Pro and Commercial D & O portfolios in Bermuda, which include Cyber, Errors & Omissions, Employment Practices Liability and Lawyers Professional Liability, and previously spent eight years working on the Financial Institutions portfolio.

Before joining Sompo International, the company said Ms Spurling was a senior auditor at Deloitte.

She has an MBA from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College.

Mr Geekie’s retirement comes after 15 years with Sompo International, having worked in both Bermuda and London.

Julian James, CEO International Insurance said: “Forbes has been instrumental in the growth and profitability of our portfolio and helping to make Bermuda a ‘go-to’ place for professional lines business. We thank him for his service and wish him well in his future endeavours.”