Global marine insurer North reinforced its strategy for premium diversification with two major additions to its Sunderland Marine Owners’ Fixed Premium P&I team. The company appointed Peter Thomas as deputy business claims manager and Laura Gilbert as underwriter within the Group’s Owners’ Fixed Premium P&I (OFP P&I) team in a significant expansion of Sunderland Marine’s London-based team.

Thomas has over 17 years’ experience in senior claims roles with several mutual and fixed marine insurers in the London market, and most recently held the position of Head of P&I Claims Asia for QBE in Singapore. With P&I, FD&D, H&M and War risks experience and a wide knowledge of Asian and European business, he is a well-known figure within the London and SEA marine insurance scene.

Gilbert brings considerable underwriting experience to North and Sunderland Marine, after more than seven years with British Marine, as well as particular insights into global OFP markets including the UK, Russia and Australasia.

“We are delighted to welcome Laura and Pete to the OFP team as we drive North’s diversification goals forward,” said Nick Wolfe, deputy global director (Underwriting), North. Wolfe leads the strategy to grow diversified lines as a proportion of North premiums, taking responsibility for the Sunderland Marine product portfolio including OFP P&I, Aquaculture, Fishing, Coastal and other Specialist Vessels and North Hull.

Thya Kathiravel, chief underwriting officer, North P&I, said that “North’s transformation from monoline P&I Club to the diversified global marine insurer through Sunderland Marine continues and these appointments reaffirm our support for Nick and his team. The strategy offers an agile response from North to a changing marine insurance market and develops new revenue streams to underpin the robust financial position which enables our Members and Clients to trade with confidence.”