DUAL targets growth as it promotes Kilpatrick to Exec Chairman

25.01.10

9 March 2009: DUAL Corporate Risks, the UK’s largest specialist Directors’ & Officers’ and Professional Indemnity underwriting agency for mid-market companies, has promoted Managing Director Russell Kilpatrick to the newly created position of Executive Chairman.   The new role will enable him to focus on exploring strategic growth opportunities both in the UK and internationally.
 
Mark Bridges, DUAL Corporate Risk’s Director of Operations, has also been promoted to Managing Director and will run the business on a day to day basis.

Prior to joining DUAL Corporate Risks Mr Kilpatrick served as Managing Director of ACE Corporate Risks; a joint venture between ACE Gibraltar (Holdings) Limited and R Kilpatrick Holdings Limited. The business was acquired by DUAL International in 2003.

Under Mr Kilpatrick’s leadership, DUAL Corporate Risks has grown quickly in size and opened a regional office in Manchester to complement the London operation. The business recently reported its most successful year yet, with GWP exceeding £40 million coupled with impressive underwriting returns.

Mr Kilpatrick is also Chief Underwriting Officer of DUAL International and was appointed to the Board of DUAL International in April 2007.

Mr Bridges joined DUAL Corporate Risks in August 2008 as Director of Operations from AIG where he was Operations & Systems Manager for Central Europe and Russia. He started his insurance career in 1988 with Financial Insurance Group, the creditor insurance arm of GE Capital and later joined Chubb as Manager of the UK & Ireland Customer Services Division before moving to HSBC Insurance Brokers.

Stephen Crowther, Executive Chairman DUAL International, said: “Since acquiring the business in 2003 Russell has done a fantastic job in driving DUAL Corporate Risks forward, both in terms of premium growth and the quality of the products available to brokers.

“The market is undergoing considerable change due the current ecomomic environment and, as a market leader in the provision of D&O and PI products, we intend to take full advantage of the increased demand for corporate protection.  As Executive Chairman, Russell will now have the time he needs to capitalise on the numerous market opportunities being presented to us while Mark will use his well proven skills to run the business.