Steadfast Underwriting Agencies has appointed two additional CEOs after splitting the business to enhance market focus and alignment with brokers and clients.

David McMurdo is CEO of the new niche retail and specialty business, which brings together Mansions, Dawes and ARGIS.

Stephen Ward has been appointed CEO of the new commercial lines business, which includes Miramar, Procover, IUA, Pint, Sports Underwriting, Quanta, Platinum Placement Solutions and PI Direct. 

“The appointments reflect our commitment to continue building high-performing, market-aligned businesses that deliver smarter decision-making, faster innovation and stronger outcomes for the ultimate beneficiaries, our clients,” Steadfast Underwriting Agencies CEO Mark Senkevics said today.

Steadfast says the agency business has in recent months “realigned its operations” to streamline its market offering into two “distinct, wholly owned subsidiaries”.

It says each has “a clear market focus designed to drive scale, efficiency and deeper alignment with broker and customer needs”.

Mr McMurdo has been Steadfast’s chief underwriting officer for four years, leading the transformation of its consumer retail agencies.

Prior to Steadfast, he spent a decade at AIG in senior underwriting and strategic partnership roles across personal and SME portfolios. Earlier in his career, he worked in the London market with Zurich and Allianz.

Mr Ward was head of commercial at Steadfast Underwriting Agencies, overseeing the performance of a diverse group of agencies across multiple product lines.

He has also held senior roles at AIG, including head of casualty for Asia-Pacific, head of environmental for Asia-Pacific and head of casualty for Australia.