Group Underwriting COO

This newly created senior leadership position offers a unique opportunity to build from the ground up – designing structures, processes, and capabilities. It will require a high degree of creativity, initiative, and problem-solving to shape and embed new ways of working across a complex, global environment. Sitting at the heart of the Global Underwriting function, acting as the engine behind strategic execution, transformation, and operational excellence.

This role combines execution leadership, strategic delivery, and cultural influence. You will partner closely with the Group Chief Underwriting Officer (GCUO) to support defining and delivery of the group underwriting strategy.

The Group Underwriting COO will be a strategic operator and strategic lead across a range of initiatives designed to enable core underwriting priorities, ensure strategic alignment, enhance performance and drive long‑term efficiency, ensuring the GCUO’s agenda is delivered with rigour and impact. The role will be responsible for building and leading a cross‑functional team across four core pillars:
Strategic Planning & Execution, Advanced Analytics, Optimisation Initiatives, and Performance Support Capabilities. The position will also act as the primary interface between Global Underwriting and functions such as Operations (incl. Technology & Change), Claims, Actuarial and Finance, – ensuring alignment across the business to deliver underwriting objectives, operational excellence and efficiency.

Responsibilities will include:

Strategic Execution & GCUO Support

• Serve as a strategic advisor and operator to the GCUO, playing a key role in supporting the definition, delivery, and communication of underwriting strategy to relevant audiences.
• Drive and oversee the generation, prioritisation, and governance of a portfolio of underwriting initiatives via Canopius’s Operational Planning process.
• Cultivate a strong feedback loop between the GCUO and key stakeholders across the business, enabling effective information flow and decision‑making.
• Provide timely counsel and key updates on critical items requiring the GCUO’s attention.
• Participate in key underwriting forums and other meetings as required by the GCUO.

Strategic Projects & Transformation

• Build and lead the Optimisation initiatives team to develop and execute underwriting projects and ensure follow‑through on key initiatives.
• Collaborate on the development, standardisation, and continual improvement of underwriting operating models and processes to ensure consistent, scalable, and efficient operations.
• Take ownership of and help design, coordinate, and track underwriting and cross‑functional high priority initiatives which may be operational, transformational, cultural or strategic in nature.
• Act as a focal point within Underwriting for innovation and sustainability agendas; promoting product and process innovation aligned to business goals. Partnering with the business to further the creation of next‑generation insurance products, which cater for emerging risks and opportunities.

Cross‑Functional Engagement

• Act as the underwriting conduit to functional partners, eg:
  Operations (inc. Technology, Data & Change), Claims, Actuarial, and Finance. Managing underwriting interdependencies and driving cross‑functional collaboration to ensure alignment of priorities and help facilitate delivery.
• Represent underwriting priorities in enterprise‑wide programmes, ensuring needs are understood, resources are aligned, and value is delivered.

Analytics & Underwriting Performance Improvement Support

• Build and oversee the underwriting analytics team spanning data scientists, modelers and BI/analytic deployment staff to deliver actionable insights that inform strategy, support decision‑making, and enhance underwriting performance. Leverage third party resources to ensure timely and sustained execution.
• Embed data‑driven thinking through the underwriting organisation to help drive underwriting insights and competitive advantage. Establish and monitor key metrics to evaluate strategy, innovation, and underwriting productivity; executing in line with Group Data governance and policies.
• Collaborate with…