IRONSHORE EUROPE OPENS LONDON BRANCH

Ironshore Europe, the Dublin-based arm of Bermudian specialty p/c group Ironshore, is to open a branch office in London. It will be headed by Paul Betts, most recently vice-president at Chartis International where he was European Manager for Financial Institutions. He will report to Fiona Marry, CEO of Ironshore Europe. The London branch will focus initially on underwriting select lines of commercial business, particularly financial, professional and property. Mark Wheeler, CEO of Ironshore International, said that "while we will focus on selected business lines at the outset, Ironshore Europe will eventually broaden its underwriting expertise to build a platform that encompasses Ironshore's comprehensive suite of specialty insurance products".