Launch Underwriters, a Managing General Agent (MGA), has appointed Dennis Sparks as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective May 5th, 2025. Alongside this, Erik W. Matson will now serve as Executive Chairman.
In the new role, Sparks aims to expand the firm’s footprint in the broader MGA platform space, as well as geographically in the London Market and the EU.
The two appointments align with the company’s mission to deliver innovative and profitable insurance programs in partnership with elite underwriting talent and capacity providers.
Co-founded in 2023 by Matson, the firm operates as a modern program administrator, purpose-built for entrepreneurial underwriters, enabling best-in-class underwriting teams to perform across commercial and personal lines.
Launch combines a centralised, data-driven technology infrastructure with seamless operational support.
Sparks most recently served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) at MS Transverse Insurance Group. He has over 34 years of industry experience, holding executive roles including CUO, Chief Actuary, Chief Financial Officer, and Head of Ceded Reinsurance at insurance entities like Catlin, PMA, USI Insurance Holdings and began his career at USF&G.
Matson was most recently the CEO of MS Transverse Insurance Group, leaving the role in the last year as his co-founder, David Paulsson, stepped into take control of the leadership of Transverse.
Matson also co-founded Transverse Insurance Group and served as its Chairman and CEO. He brings decades of experience building underwriting-intensive, specialty and MGA-centric insurance operations on a global scale, including senior executive roles at companies like AIG and Munich Reinsurance Group.
He has served on several boards of directors and is currently the Non-Executive Chairman of Bridgehaven Europe Insurance Holdings, Ltd, the leading UK/EU hybrid-fronting company based in London, England.
Sparks commented, “I’m excited to lead Launch into its next phase of growth. This platform is uniquely positioned to support underwriting excellence with its nimble infrastructure, strong capital and insurance industry relationships, and entrepreneurial culture. I look forward to building on its momentum.”
Matson added, “Dennis and I share a common vision for building high-performance underwriting platforms. His proven ability to drive profitable underwriting, combined with a deep understanding of risk and reinsurance, makes him the ideal choice to lead Launch into the next stage of its lifecycle.”
