Liberty Specialty Markets appoints Henry Nelson as Chief Underwriting Officer for UK & MENA regions

Liberty Specialty Markets (LSM), part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, has announced the appointment of Henry Nelson as Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) for the UK & MENA region, effective 1st January 2025. Nelson will begin transitioning into his new role over the coming weeks, working alongside current CUO Mel O’Neill, who is set to retire at the end of this year.

Reporting directly to Luis Prato, President of UK & MENA, and Ronald Bolaños, CUO for LSM, Nelson will oversee underwriting strategies in the region, with a focus on delivering profitable growth, fostering a high-performance culture, and ensuring the region’s operations are well-positioned to meet future industry challenges.

Nelson has been with Liberty for over 11 years and has significant cross-functional experience, holding several key roles across the business. Since 2022, Nelson has served as Chief of Staff. Prior to this, he was Head of Portfolio Management for London and Global Products. His experience spans various classes of business, including Marine and War & Terrorism. Nelson joined Liberty from Aon’s Crisis Management team in 2016.

Luis Prato, President of UK & MENA, said: “Henry’s in-depth understanding of our business strategy, combined with his cross-functional experience and strong relationships across the business will be essential as we continue to grow and future-proof our operations in the UK & MENA region. His perspectives will strengthen our ability to deliver value for our clients, brokers and our Liberty teams.

“We also extend our sincere gratitude to Mel O’Neill for her 21 years of exceptional service at Liberty. Her commitment to excellence and strong leadership have laid robust foundations upon which Henry will build, ensuring we maintain our focus on delivering exceptional service in the UK & MENA region."