Chaucer Expands Global Property Capabilities

International specialty reinsurance company Chaucer has announced the appointments of Chance Gilliland (pictured right) as head of US property insurance, Mel Smart (pictured left) as head of international property fac and Michael Johnston as deputy class underwriter for international property binders.

Gilliland will be responsible for developing a delegated authority business portfolio through a core group of US partner agents. Prior to joining Chaucer, he worked at Chubb, where he spent nearly a decade writing US property binder business in London and the US.

In her new role, Smart will be responsible for growing Chaucer’s international direct and facultative property business. She previously served as senior international property underwriter at Brit Global Specialty.

Meanwhile, in his new role, Johnston will work with Harry Woolf, class underwriter, to grow Chaucer’s international property binders account. Prior to joining Chaucer, Johnston worked at Liberty Specialty Markets.

“We have ambitious plans for our property division, as these appointments demonstrate,” said Colin Clulow, head of property and political violence at Chaucer. “Chance has a proven track record and strong market support, which together make him an excellent choice to lead the development of our new US property account, while Mel and Mike bring significant knowledge and experience to our international property account.”

“These appointments will broaden our product range and enhance our underwriting expertise and service capabilities, and highlight our commitment to providing a market-leading property underwriting team for clients, brokers and MGAs,” said Nicola Stacey, chief underwriting officer at Chaucer.