HDI UK&I announces executive underwriting appointments

HDI UK & Ireland has announced a number of executive appointments across its underwriting functions, effective 1st October 2025.

Kate Sutcliffe, formerly HDI’s UK and Ireland Director of Property, has been appointed Chief Underwriting Officer – Short Tail.

In this expanded role, Sutcliffe will oversee underwriting for Property, Marine, Engineering, Risk Engineering, and the soon-to-launch Energy Hub. She will continue leading Property and report to Stephanie Ogden, CEO of HDI UK & Ireland.

Sutcliffe brings more than 20 years of industry experience. She joined HDI in 2024 from Sompo International, where she served as Head of UK Retail Property, London. She previously held roles at AIG, Allied World, and Swiss Re.

Adam Curran, previously HDI’s UK and Ireland Director of Underwriting – Specialty, has been named Chief Underwriting Officer – Specialty, responsible for all Specialty lines of business, including Delegated Authority. He will continue to report to Ogden.

Curran has spent the past 12 years at HDI, having previously held underwriting roles at Aspen Insurance, Mitsui Sumitomo, and Chubb.

HDI is also recruiting a new Chief Underwriting Officer – Long Tail, responsible for Liability, Motor, and Cyber.

Additionally, Robert Dawes has been appointed Regional Head of Property, reporting to Sutcliffe, to further expand HDI’s UK property portfolio.

Dawes brings more than 20 years of underwriting and leadership experience, most recently as Senior Underwriter – Property & Casualty at QBE UK, where he led teams across Birmingham, Bristol, and Manchester. He has a strong track record in managing complex property portfolios, driving profitable growth, and building trusted broker partnerships.

“As we continue to navigate a dynamic market, the strength and clarity of our leadership decisions remains pivotal,” commented Ogden. “We have taken the opportunity to review and refine our senior leadership organisational structure to ensure we are well-positioned to support our brokers and clients in achieving our combined objectives of long-term profitable growth. I want to congratulate Kate and Adam on their expanded roles and take the opportunity to welcome Rob to our business to lead the regional strategy for our property book, a core line of business for HDI.”