QBE Canada grows marine and environmental teams

QBE Canada has strengthened its underwriting team with two new joiners in Marine and one in Environmental Impairment Liability (EIL), who will be expanding its product offering. 

Dean Geros, QBE’s newly appointed Marine Portfolio Manager and Marine Underwriting Manager Dustin Street each bring 20 years’ experience in marine underwriting, acquired mostly at Coast Underwriters Ltd. The Vancouver-based duo, highly regarded in the market, will develop QBE’s marine capabilities in Canada, launching in due course such products as hull and machinery, protection and indemnity (P&I) and marine liability.

“Marine is a key industry sector in Canada and QBE is already a strong player globally,” said Scott Pidduck, General Manager, QBE Canada. “With Dean and Dustin on board, we’ll be giving access to QBE's capabilities through our local branch offices. This double appointment will reinforce our presence and support our brokers. Ours is a marine team who enjoy solving problems and finding solutions and I’m sure our brokers will benefit from our entrepreneurial spirit.”

In parallel, Toronto-based Cristian Altobelli has been appointed to the newly created role of Environmental Impairment Liability (EIL) Underwriting Manager. Joining from Markel where he held various environmental underwriting roles over the past seven years, most recently as a manager, he will be tasked with leading and accelerating the growth of QBE’s EIL portfolio in Canada.

“EIL is key coverage for many of QBE’s clients, so the new product offering we’ll be launching will strengthen our value and complement the coverages we already provide,” said Scott Pidduck. “It’s important that our offering is competitive in the marketplace, so we’re glad to bring Cristian into this team. His deep technical knowledge and strong broker relationships will help elevate our presence in this niche space.”