By Chris Munro

April 22 - (The Insurer) - Verve Risk Services has brought in Gordon Steward from rival MGA platform Dual Group to lead its expansion into the forestry industry in Latin America, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Steward, who has been appointed head of forestry, will focus on writing business for primarily small, medium to medium-large forestry companies.

Having joined Verve, Steward will write a hybrid specialty book that includes the ability to write both traditional and parametric solutions.

Verve said Steward can also design unique solutions to meet clients’ requirements for climate change and ESG.

“We are focused on building a highly specialised MGA business with a diverse portfolio of product lines,” said Scott Simmons, director at Verve.

“The key to the success of this strategy will be collaborating with specialist underwriters such as Gordon, who have a deep understanding of their areas of expertise with a strong technical underwriting capability and with long-term capacity support,” Simmons added.

Steward brings almost 40 years of industry experience to Verve. Prior to joining Verve, Steward spent close to four years at Dual, latterly as managing director.

Before joining Dual in 2020, Steward spent just over a year at White Oak Underwriting Agency, while his career also includes time at Weald Risk Partners, Castel Underwriting Agencies, IGI and Catlin, among others.

Verve launched in 2016 as an underwriting cell of Castel to provide professional and management liability products for insurance companies, agents and brokers in the U.S., Canada, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Barbados.

The leadership team of Scott Simmons and Alan Lambert undertook a management buyout from Castel in 2023 supported by an investment from B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc.

It writes business on capacity provided by Lloyd’s syndicates and the London company market.