Optio Group, a leading specialty MGA, appointed Oliver Sheppard as Head of Financial Lines with immediate effect. He will be based in London and report to CEO Deepak Soni. Sheppard will head Optio’s Professional Indemnity portfolio, including overall P&L and market capacity responsibility.

Sheppard has nearly 20 years’ experience in Financial Lines at both Lloyd’s and Company markets in London. Most recently he spent three years at Munitus Insurance as Head of UK and International professional Indemnity. He has also held various senior PI underwriter positions at Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty, AIG, RSA and Zurich.

Deepak Soni, Chief Executive Officer, Optio Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome Oliver to our growing team. As we continue with our global growth strategy through strategic acquisitions, achieving profitable organic growth across the markets we serve is also critical. Oliver brings extensive blue-chip company-market experience, which will be extremely valuable in driving the continued growth and development of this profitable and important class for Optio.”

Oliver Sheppard said: “I am pleased to join Optio at such an exciting time in its growth. I look forward to working alongside Deepak and the experienced team to further build Optio’s position as a high-quality financial lines market.”