to the new Executive Committee Vice Chair and three new Technical Committee Chairs
During the IUMI annual conference in Tokyo this year, Takeshi Miyazaki was elected as a new vice chair of the IUMI Executive Committee. Shuichi Terakawa (Steve) has stepped down following a change in his role at Tokio Marine and Nichido Fire Insurance Co. Ltd.
This year also saw the election of three new Technical Committee chairs; Sean Dalton (Cargo Technical Committee), Anneke Kooiman (Inland Hull, Fishing & Yacht) and James McDonald (Offshore Energy Committee) after Nick Derrick, Michael Csorba and Simon Williams, respectively, completed their set terms – thank you all for your hard work and dedication.
Takeshi Miyazaki
Takeshi is no stranger to marine insurance having spent his entire career – over 30 years - in the industry. Following his graduation from university in 1986, Takeshi began his career as an Assistant Underwriter of War Risks in the Hull Underwriting Department of Tokio Marine & Fire Insurance before moving to London for several years as the first marine hull representative for Tokio Marine.
Over the years Takeshi has worked hard and built his career, working in most sectors of marine insurance including hull and upstream energy, and is now General Manager of the Marine Underwriting Department and Head of Marine for Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance. Takeshi also holds the position of Chairman of the Underwriting Committee for the Hull Reinsurance Pool of Japan.
Following his election, Takeshi commented:
“It is a great honour to be joining the Executive Committee of such an historical and professional organisation. During these disruptive times, when our marine business is drastically changing, I look forward to working on various key issues of interest to marine insurers with the Technical Committees and taking on this new challenge to help IUMI enhance its presence in the global market, particularly in the region of Asia.”
Sean Dalton, CPCU, AMIN
A graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, with a Master’s degree from State University of New York Maritime College, Sean served as a Lieutenant for the United States Navy Reserve from 1988-1999. Following this Sean moved to marine insurance and has held various roles, notably from 2010 to 2014, Sean was EVP and Head of Marine for Zurich Global Corporate in North America, leading the Global Corporate Marine business unit in profitably growing their ocean and mono-line inland marine lines of business.
Currently Sean is the Head of Marine Underwriting, North America for Munich Re America, he leads the marine reinsurance team responsible for marine in the US and Canada. Sean also serves on the Board of Directors for the American Institute of Marine Underwriters (AIMU) and is a member of the National Cargo Bureau (NCB) and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).
Anneke Kooiman
Beginning her career in 1976 as a marine underwriter for Delta Lloyd, Anneke was the first female marine underwriter in the Dutch market. Anneke is still working for Delta Lloyd and now holds the position of Marine Manager. Impressively, Anneke has won several insurance awards including the Jurrian Award which is awarded to a professional who consistently and prodigiously serves the field of (transport) insurance law by Codex Mulder (Amsterdam based law firm specialising in international trade, transport, logistics, insurance and liability matters).
Anneke also founded, and held the position of chair for nearly 20 years, of the Dutch marine insurers discussion group called Marine Insurance Associates. During her career so far, Anneke has held various positions within the industry including being a member of the Marine Insurance Examination Board for nearly 15 years and was a member of the Liability Committee, Hull Committee and Cargo Committee for the Dutch Association of Insurers. For the past few years Anneke holds the position of chair for the marine platform of the Dutch Association of Insurers and represents the Netherlands as a Council Member within IUMI. Anneke has a strong interest in sustainability and tries to contribute as much as possible through her work for a more sustainable future.
James McDonald
Following a degree in Biochemical Engineering at UCL, James started his career in insurance in 1985, on the dark side, working as a broker at Sedgwick Offshore Resources. He transferred to New York in 1990 to run the marine and energy desk at Sedgwick international Marketing Services (SIMS). Finally, in 1998 he saw the light and moved across to the underwriting fraternity, relocating back to London as the energy underwriter for Goshawk Syndicate in Lloyd’s.
After a brief stint at the Cotesworth Syndicate, James joined post-9/11 start-up Talbot Underwriting Limited as their upstream energy underwriter. In 2010, James was promoted to Head of Marine, responsible for Hull, Cargo, Yachts, Fine Art & specie and Marine & Energy Liability in addition to Upstream Energy. James is a Chartered Insurer and has attended every IUMI conference since 2004, and been involved in the Offshore Energy Committee for four years. James is also a long-standing member of the Joint Rig Committee in London.
James’ passion is music and he has recently secured a guest slot as a DJ on WIOX radio station in New York.