People Moves: Augment Risk Promotes Cripps to New Role of Group Head of Growth and Broking; Fidelis Partnership Taps Ascot’s Donovan as Head of U/W, Property Binders

This edition of International People Moves details appointments at the broker Augment Risk and the managing general agent The Fidelis Partnership.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

Augment Risk Promotes Cripps in Newly Created Role of Group Head of Growth and Broking

Augment Risk, the London-based reinsurance and capital solutions broker, announced the appointment of Kurt Cripps as group head of growth and broking, effective immediately.

In this newly created role, Cripps will support Augment Risk’s commercial strategy by originating and delivering strategic growth opportunities across the business.

Alongside the expertise of Augment Risk’s broking leads, Kurt will play a key role in supporting strategic client opportunities, complex placements and market strategy. He brings senior market relationships, commercial experience and cross collaboration know how, all of which will help drive stronger outcomes for Augment and its clients.

Cripps will continue to serve in his role as head of global parametric during a transitional period, supported by the current team of global experts based across Miami and London. Cripps joined Augment Risk in October 2023 to build its parametric proposition. Prior to this, he spent 13 years with Aon, with his last roles being managing director for Innovation and Solutions and global head of Weather.

“This appointment reflects Kurt’s outstanding contribution to Augment and our confidence in his ability to scale that success across the wider platform,” commented Andrew Matson, Augment’s chief executive officer.

“It is also a testament to the strength of our talent pool and the type of entrepreneurial leaders our model attracts, people who are motivated by ownership, accountability and the opportunity to build lasting value,” he added.

Fidelis Partnership Taps Ascot’s Donovan as Head of U/W, Property Binders

The Fidelis Partnership (TFP), the Bermuda-based managing general agent, announced the appointment of Kevin Donovan as head of Underwriting, Property Binders.

Donovan, who joined TFP on August 4, will lead TFP’s delegated authority property business, bringing with him a strong relationship network and deep technical expertise to strengthen and grow the firm’s property binder portfolio. This appointment comes at a time when delegated authority business is playing an increasingly relevant role in London market portfolios.

Donovan will also work closely with the business’ wider underwriting teams and Pine Walk cells as part of TFP’s strategic focus on collaboration, cross-selling, and expansion across high growth markets. He reports to Michael Davern, UK CUO and group head of D&F Property and Energy.

Donovan joins from Ascot, where he spent nearly 22 years, most recently as a property underwriter.

“Delegated authority is an increasingly important part of how the London market operates, and having the right leadership, governance and distribution in place is critical to doing it well and at scale,” said Davern. “Kevin’s relationships with brokers and cover holders, combined with his technical expertise, will support our continued growth in this market, and we are pleased to have him on board.”

The Fidelis Partnership is an independent global specialty risk allocator that utilizes its two underwriting platforms, Fidelis Underwriting and Pine Walk, to source and underwrite re/insurance risks across specialty, bespoke and reinsurance pillars.