Property and speciality re/insurer IQUW has appointed Helen Thornton as chief financial officer for IQUW Re Bermuda Limited and group head of finance.

Ms Thornton joined IQUW from Nephila Capital, where she held roles as co-head of reinsurance and chief operations officer since 2011, where her principal responsibilities included leading the finance and operations teams and co-leading the reinsurance unit.

IQUW said it has also hired Vanessa O’Flynn as office manager and executive assistant. She was previously the chief administrative officer at Third Point Re from inception until January 2020.

Ms O’Flynn was previously at Guy Carpenter, Allied World and Renaissance Re.

The company said the appointments follow the recent hire of Rene Lamer, who joined the firm’s Bermuda operation as managing director for underwriting and operations and Stephen Young, who joined the firm as head of reinsurance and CEO of IQUW’s Bermuda platform.

Ms Thornton said: “I am delighted to join IQUW to continue the buildout of its Bermuda operation alongside Rene, Stephen and Vanessa.

“IQUW has already begun to deliver on its potential to become a successful re/insurance firm with a clear growth vision. I’m thrilled to be joining the team.”

Mr Young added: “As we build out IQUW’s reinsurance platform, we will continue to recruit a high-quality team with broad skills that can be leveraged across the group.

“Helen joins us with a wealth of reinsurance, finance and operations experience that she can bring to bear across the organisation as we continue to build a profitable, diversified reinsurance portfolio.”

IQUW’s insurance and reinsurance products are distributed through Lloyd’s syndicate 1856 and IQUW Agency in Bermuda.

IQUW provides insurance cover for aviation, crisis management, cyber, cargo, marine, political risk, energy, property, D&O, financial institutions, political violence and terror and war risks, plus reinsurance for property and specialty treaty.