Bermudian-based Everest Group Ltd has appointed Charlie Higham as senior vice-president and head of Everest Underwriting Partners.

The company said he succeeds Brian Drum who will retire from Everest on September 1 after 16 years with the company.

Everest said Mr Higham will lead all programme administrator and digital distribution partnerships to support the growth and expansion of the company’s highly diversified, high growth portfolio.

“Everest is fortunate to have the calibre of underwriting talent like Charlie who is well suited to lead one of our most profitable portfolios,” said Mike Mulray, president, Everest Insurance North America.

“Charlie’s portfolio management expertise combined with a deep understanding and appreciation for our distribution relationships brings a unique perspective to this important business line and the partners we serve.”

The company said Mr Higham is a seasoned underwriting leader with 20 years of specialty insurance experience.

He most recently served as Everest’s head of financial and professional lines where he led the strategy and built a dedicated financial lines team from the ground up.