Chief Underwriting Officer

About the Role

Our clientis setting up a new Managing General Agent (MGA) in Dubai. We are looking for a ChiefUnderwriting Officer (CUO) for Commercial Lines who has done this before and can build the underwritingfunction from day one. You will own underwriting strategy appetite pricing discipline and portfolio
performance and you will hire and lead the team. This is a founding-team role for a self-starter with anentrepreneurial mindset who is energised by building rather than inheriting.

Key Responsibilities

• Define the underwriting strategy risk appetite target classes and underwriting guidelines for the MGAscommercial lines portfolio
• Set and own pricing rating methodology terms and conditions and referral and authority levels
• Build and negotiate capacity relationships with insurers reinsurers and Lloyds/market partners; managedelegated authority and binding agreements including bordereaux audits and reporting
• Underwrite and sign off on complex and larger risks and make final calls on referrals
• Hire develop and lead the underwriting team including underwriters technical support and underwriting

Operations

• Monitor portfolio performance (loss ratios accumulation exposure rate adequacy) and take corrective

Action

• Work with the broking and distribution community to win quality business and build the MGAs reputationin the market
• Partner with claims actuarial finance legal and compliance to embed strong governance controls and

Regulatory Compliance

• Contribute to the MGAs business plan product development and go-to-market strategy

Other Requirements

• Represent the MGA externally with brokers capacity providers regulators and clients
• Own the MGAs underwriting P&L: deliver profitable growth against the business plan including product
• Support the MGAs licensing and regulatory approvals in Dubai and secure capacity-provider approvalsand ratings as required
• Set underwriting authorities and referral triggers and keep the MGA audit-ready for capacity providers

Experience and Qualifications

Required

• Substantial senior underwriting experience in commercial lines (proven track record typically 15 years)with prior leadership of an underwriting team
• Hands-on experience in EMEA Asia or other Tier 1 markets with an established network of brokers andcapacity providers
• Strong technical underwriting and pricing skills across multiple commercial classes (for example propertycasualty financial lines marine engineering or specialty)
• Working knowledge of delegated authority and MGA/coverholder operating models
• Currently based in Dubai or able to relocate quickly
• Bachelors degree or equivalent; professional qualifications such as ACII/CII or equivalent preferred

Desirable

• Previous experience launching or scaling an MGA start-up or new underwriting unit
• Familiarity with DIFC / UAE Central Bank insurance regulation
• Experience with underwriting systems data analytics and portfolio management tools

Personal Attributes

• Entrepreneurial self-starter comfortable with ambiguity and hands-on work in a start-up setting
• Credible commercially minded leader with sound judgement and underwriting discipline
• Strong relationship builder and negotiator
• Clear communicator with high integrity