Bermudian-based re/insurer Ascot has appointed Jeffrey Canfield as executive vice-president, casualty and product innovation for Ethos Specialty, the group’s wholly-owned managing general underwriter.

The company said Mr Canfield will be responsible for expanding the range of solutions offered by Ethos Specialty as well as underwriting a broad suite of casualty-based products.

This includes furthering the underwriting and digital capabilities of Ascot Group’s small excess casualty portal for wholesale brokers, and launching new SME targeted casualty solutions, the company said.

In addition, Ascot said Mr Canfield will focus on embedding technology and automation into the underwriting process across Ethos Specialty’s ecosystem, which offers market-leading underwriting and operational efficiencies to capital partners.

He joins Ethos Specialty after more than two decades in senior casualty underwriting positions, including stints at AIG and Aspen.

Most recently, Mr Canfield was at Argo Group where he was SVP, head of casualty before taking on a development role as head of innovation, responsible for delivering alternative distribution models, automation and product enhancement for start-ups.

Reporting to Nick Greggains, CEO, Ethos Specialty, the company said Mr Canfield will work closely with the head underwriters across the MGU – Adam Schnell, EVP, who underwrites a range of real estate and construction liability solutions; Navine Aggarwal, EVP, M&A Insurance; and recent appointment Brendan Walsh, EVP, Property.

Completing the Ethos executive team is Jonathan Legge, EVP Strategic Operations, who joined in April to enhance service and infrastructure capabilities, the company said.

Mr Greggains said: “Ethos Specialty continues to build a market leading platform which fuses exceptional technical expertise with the highest quality operational efficiencies. We’re confident this technology, underwriting and distribution model can provide long term profitability to our capital partners.

“Jeff’s experience in developing systems and products will assist us in enhancing this competitive advantage and I’m delighted he has joined us at this important stage in our growth journey.”

Mr Canfield added: “Ethos Specialty offers a distinct type of strategy which mixes high quality underwriting with operational efficiencies as a single service to risk partners.

“I’m excited to join the business and work with Nick and the talented underwriting teams to increase our product breadth and overall depth of offering.”