BHSI launches in Italy, appoints country leader, key team members; QBE Iberia appoints Díaz-Guardamino as CEO

This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) and QBE Iberia.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

BHSI launches in Italy, appoints country leader and key team members

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) announced that it had opened an office in Milan and appointed Leonardo Castrichino to oversee its work in Italy as Country Manager along with several additional management appointments.

Castrichino comes to BHSI with nearly three decades of experience in the European insurance market, where he has held numerous leadership positions at the country and regional level and has gained in-depth knowledge across multiple trade lines and business segments. Most recently, he was director of operations for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region at American International Group, where he held various leadership roles since 2014, according to his LinkedIn profile. Castrichino can be reached at [email protected].

“Since opening our first European offices in 2016, BHSI has developed thoughtfully and strategically in the region, always with an eye on bringing sustainable, long-term solutions to market,” said Alessandro Cerase, Head of Europe, BHSI. “We are excited to now expand into Italy with Leo leading our business, building an exceptionally talented team and bringing the BHSI brand, balance sheet and services to market.”

BHSI also announced the following additional management appointments in Italy:

• Marco Vantellino was appointed head of executive and professional lines. He joins BHSI with 20 years of industry experience focused on executive and professional lines and was most recently head of financial lines for the Mediterranean business at another global insurer. Vantellino can be reached at [email protected]
• Thomas Tasso was appointed head of the Property – Energy and Construction section. He has spent nearly two decades working across Europe and demonstrating exceptional underwriting acumen across real estate and engineered risks. Tasso was most recently head of property for the Mediterranean business at AIG. He can be reached at [email protected].
• Nicoló Mussi was appointed Head of Commercial and Financial Institutions for Executive and Professional Lines. He comes to BHSI with more than 10 years of industry experience and will focus on building BHSI’s Directors and Officers Liability and Financial Institutions business in Italy. Throughout his career, he has held increasingly senior positions in underwriting financial institutions, most recently senior underwriter and financial institutions practice leader at Liberty Specialty Markets. Mussi can be reached at Nicoló[email protected].
• Chiara Baldissara was appointed director of operations. Previously, she was an underwriting technician at BHSI in London. Baldissara joined the company in 2017 and has more than a decade of experience in the industry. She is relocating to Milan for her new role and can be reached at [email protected].

BHSI continues to expand its team in Milan and offers a full line of property, casualty, and executive and professional lines products, including global multinational program capabilities.

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QBE Iberia appoints Díaz-Guardamino as CEO

QBE called Mario Díaz-Guardamino as the next managing director for QBE Iberiapending regulatory approval.

Díaz-Guardamino has over 20 years of experience in financial services, starting his insurance career as a broker before moving to underwriting credit lines at AIG Spain and then becoming head of EMEA Trade Credit Insurance.

He brings a wealth of experience in specialty underwriting, business development, broker and client distribution strategy.

Díaz-Guardamino will lead the team to deliver QBE’s plans for Spain in the Madrid and Barcelona offices. He will focus on profitable growth by fostering expertise, service delivery and strong broker and client relationships. Points of interest will include corporate and environmental affairs, multinational programs, construction and sustainable energy.

Díaz-Guardamino’s experience, market knowledge, leadership skills and national and international track record “will be essential in strengthening our position in the Spanish and Portuguese markets,” he commented. Beatriz Valentidirector of insurance, QBE Europe.

Part of the QBE Insurance Group, QBE European Operations is a trading name of QBE Europe, QBE UK Ltd., QBE Underwriting Ltd., QBE Management Services (UK) Ltd. and QBE Underwriting Services (UK) Ltd.

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