New CUO will be responsible for further powering Ripe’s underwriting and pricing expertise across existing and new product areas as Ripe continues to grow

Manchester, 29^th October 2024 – UK Digital MGA Ripe today announces the appointment of David Rowntree as its new Chief Underwriting Officer.

Rowntree brings an impressive underwriting track record to the business, counting over 20 years of underwriting experience and having held senior roles at Zurich, RSA, Legal & General and Swiss Re.

He was most recently Head of Property & SME for the UK and Europe at Wakam, where he was pivotal in developing new product and market strategies. His experience centres on digital and tech enabled underwriting, using data and enrichment to drive strong underwriting results – a key focus area for Ripe.

At Ripe, Rowntree will be tasked with ensuring that the company continues to deliver robust performance for capacity partners and product excellence for customers. He will also lead on developing relationships with insurance partners across new markets and product areas.

His appointment arrives at a pivotal moment for Ripe, building on the recent appointment of Alan Thomas as the new CEO and the company's agreed acquisition of GJW Direct.

Alan Thomas, CEO of Ripe, said: “As the business is scaling and with new capacity coming into Ripe, it is the right time to appoint a Chief Underwriting Officer – and we are thrilled that David will fill this crucial role. Along with his impressive track record, David’s personal style is collaborative whilst working at pace and driving results which aligns perfectly with our culture. He is a great fit to drive our underwriting strategy forward as we continue to build new products, pursue acquisitions and expand the team.”