Specialty MGA, the managing general agent of MNK Group, has appointed Marcus Smithson as Head of Financial Lines and Cyber.
This appointment aligns with the MGA’s overarching strategy as it continues to scale its international specialty capabilities, while focusing on building differentiated portfolios through its flexible MGA model and international distribution network.
In his new role, Smithson is based in London and will lead the existing underwriting team to accelerate the development of its global financial lines and cyber portfolio.
Additionally, he will grow a diversified book providing innovative solutions for financial and commercial clients, in Directors & Officers (D&O), Financial Institutions Professional Indemnity (FI PI), and Bankers Blanket Bond (BBB).
Smithson has over three decades of experience in the financial lines sector. Most recently, he served in a senior role in the financial institutions team at Marsh.
His experience spans nearly a decade at Generali in São Paulo, during which he established and led its Latin American financial lines and cyber portfolio. In the past, Smithson held a series of underwriting and portfolio management roles at QBE in London.
Manoj Kumar, Chairman, MNK Group, commented on the appointment, “We are delighted to announce Marcus’s arrival. He brings deep underwriting leadership across financial lines and cyber, with proven experience in building international portfolios across complex risk environments.
“His experience spanning the London Market and Latin America will be instrumental as we expand our global financial institutions and cyber offering.
“This appointment enhances our ability to develop a diversified, technically underwritten portfolio across D&O, professional indemnity, crime and cyber liability lines, and reflects our continued investment in specialist underwriting capability.”
Smithson added, “I am very pleased to join Specialty MGA. The business provides the underwriting flexibility and distribution reach to build a genuinely differentiated financial lines and cyber proposition.
“My focus will be on further developing an international portfolio spanning D&O, FI PI, and cyber, with disciplined risk selection and clarity of coverage across both traditional liability and technology-driven exposures.
“Building on the strong foundations already in place, we will continue to expand into key growth regions, including Latin America, while strengthening our position in core markets.”
