International underwriting agency Dual Group has appointed Ed Ashby as Chief Executive Officer, DUAL North America, marking the division’s next phase of growth.
From 23 March 2026, Ashby will be leading the US business from New York, reporting to Richard Clapham, CEO, DUAL Group, who commented: “Ed is a highly experienced commercial leader with a strong track record in building distribution-led businesses.
“He will focus on expanding our offering for our US broker network and their clients, strengthening our carrier partnerships, and creating additional capacity vehicles.”
Clapham continued: “With strong specialty underwriting expertise, under the leadership of Connie Germano, Jon Knouse, Andy Swindall and Brendan Keating, we have the talent and the tools to deliver the solutions our broker network and carrier partners are asking for, as we accelerate our growth ambitions in the US.”
Ashby, who brings 30 years of experience in the US market to his new position, is joining Dual from AXIS Capital, where he was Chief Commercial Officer.
Prior to that, he held leadership roles at QBE, including Head of Global Distribution, North America and Head of Credit and Surety.
Howden, Group CEO, Howden, stated: “The US represents the single largest growth opportunity for DUAL. Our ambition to accelerate our model in North America – attracting the very best underwriting talent and giving them a platform to drive innovative capacity and products to meet the needs of brokers and clients – matches the opportunity that this important market presents. Ed is the right person to lead DUAL North America as we work hard to deliver that ambition.”
Commenting on his appointment, Ashby said: “Joining a business with such a great culture and strong ambitions to serve the US broker community is an opportunity I could not pass on.
“DUAL already has a significant broker network and a deep breadth of carrier relationships, and I can see tremendous opportunities in serving them with new products and developing innovative new capacity solutions. The market is crying out for it, and with the strength and relevance of DUAL Group as a global platform at the center, it’s a winning formula.”
Ashby is succeeding John Johnson, who has led DUAL North America as CEO since October 2021.
