Asta, a Davies-owned third-party managing agency at Lloyd’s, has announced several senior leadership promotions, including the promotion of David Hopkins to Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO), having served as the company’s Deputy CUO since August 2024.
Hopkins brings over 25 years of insurance industry experience, including four years at Westfield Specialty International, most recently serving as Head of Underwriting Performance Management. He has also held leadership roles at Argo Group, Axis Capital, and Antares Managing Agency.
Asta has promoted Clare Barley to Managing Director, where she will provide greater direct support to the CEO in managing Asta’s daily operations. Her responsibilities include managing key stakeholder relationships and helping to shape, communicate, and execute strategic priorities. Barley will retain responsibility for culture and HR.
Barley has spent 11 years at Asta, previously serving as Chief Operating Officer. Earlier in her career, she held actuarial consultancy roles at Mercer and Lane Clark & Peacock.
Leslie Edmonds has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer, assuming responsibility for Asta’s operations and IT functions from Barley. She has also become part of the executive team, an AMA Board member, and Asta’s SMF24.
Edmonds brings more than 25 years of insurance experience across Lloyd’s and the company markets. She has spent the past five years at Asta as Operations Director and has previously held roles at Lloyd’s and Allianz.
Laura McMaster will assume the newly created role of Chief Experience Officer, focusing on providing strategic support and advice to Asta’s syndicate clients as they progress through various phases of their development. In this role, she will also ensure oversight frameworks remain robust and effective. Client management will report to McMaster, in addition to retaining reporting lines for both actuarial and exposure management.
McMaster has spent the past eight years at Asta, most recently serving as Chief Actuary. Previously, she was a Partner at Lane Clark & Peacock.
Ben Carter and Phil White have been promoted to Chief Actuary roles. They will each have responsibility for a portfolio of syndicates, and Asta will seek regulatory approval for both to take on the SMF20 function for their respective portfolios.
Carter has spent the past 12 years at Asta, while White has been with the company for seven years, both previously serving as Deputy Chief Actuary.
Asta said the promotions reflect its continued growth and commitment to fostering strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, enhancing the value delivered to Asta-managed businesses, and further strengthening the client partnership model.
Lorraine Harfitt, Chief Executive Officer of Asta, said, “We are delighted to recognise the talent we have at Asta and to be able to support the career development of our team. These appointments will not only support succession planning but also ensure sufficient leadership attention and time is given to not only maintaining but continuing to build upon the great business we have. I wish them all the best in their new positions and look forward to working with them closely.”
