Avatar MGA Ltd., a next generation managing general agent (MGA), has received Lloyd’s coverholder and UK regulatory approval to begin binding business from Aug. 1, 2025.
The US D&F property-focused MGA is backed by three market-leading syndicates at Lloyd’s, the Aon Reinsurance team, and has received an investment from South African insurer Santam.
Avatar said it leverages best-in-class technology and enhanced data analytics to reflect risk appetite, enabling critical “human in the loop” underwriters to price risks quickly and accurately.
The company will be led by an executive team of industry experts that includes Chief Executive Officer designate Simon Clapham, Chief Operating Officer Adrian Williams, and Clare Bailey as head of Property.
Avatar is targeting US mid-market property insurance on risks with total insured values of between US$25 million to US$1 billion.
Powered by Verisk technology, Avatar applies advanced data analytics to primary and secondary catastrophe exposures, facilitating improved risk assessments, fast response times, and precise pricing.
Combining cutting-edge technology with experienced underwriters, Avatar operates without requiring a large middle-office support team and delivers a highly productive operating model, the company said. Avatar is trading as an appointed representative of Pro Global, the London-based re/insurance outsourcing and consulting specialist.
Simon Clapham is to be appointed the chief executive and chief underwriting officer of Avatar. (His appointment is subject to current contractual obligations at Aon).
With more than 40 years of global experience in the Lloyd’s insurance market, Clapham has worked in underwriting and broking companies in the insurance industry in the UK and the US. He is currently chief underwriting officer at Aon Underwriting Managers, a role he assumed in November 2024. He previously he was head of underwriting performance management at Liberty Specialty Markets and active underwriter for Brit’s Syndicates 800 and 2987.
With more than 25 years of senior leadership experience in the international insurance market, Avatar’s COO Adrian Williams has a background in corporate finance, acquisitions and start-ups at Lloyd’s. His previous roles include co-founder, chief legal officer and head of risk, governance & compliance at Volante Global, managing director and EMEA general counsel at Swiss Re, and head of legal for QBE European Operations