OAK Reinsurance (Oak Re) has made a series of strategic appointments to strengthen its underwriting organisational structure, building on its launch in November 2024.
The reinsurer has appointed new leadership roles across its three underwriting segments—property, specialty, and credit.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Sarah Walcott has been appointed as director of underwriting for the property segment.
In this role, Walcott will oversee property catastrophe, property specialty, and property per risk lines.
Conrad Williams will assume the position of director of underwriting for specialty.
Williams will be responsible for specialty lines, which include marine, energy, political violence, and cyber.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataWalcott and Williams will report to James Irvine, OAK Re chief underwriting officer (CUO).
The credit segment will see Karen Barker join as director of underwriting in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Barker’s responsibilities will encompass credit lines, including conventional credit, political risk, and surety, reporting to OAK Re innovation strategies president Tom Dickson.
Additionally, OAK Re has designated Ciara Svensen as head of ceded.
Svensen will manage strategic planning and execution of ceded reinsurance across all business classes, reporting to Alex Winfield, chief capital officer & head of strategy.
Tom Morgan has been named head of business development, reporting to OAK’s London operations MD Roland Morse.
Morgan’s role will focus on the management of strategic relationships with distribution partners and global multiclass clients.
OAK Reinsurance CEO, founder and Group CUO Cathal Carr said: “The quality, breadth and diversity of talent we have appointed across Underwriting, Capital & Risk and Operations & Finance is absolutely fantastic. This development of our organisational structure will enhance our capabilities in these areas, while ensuring we are focussed on servicing our clients and distribution partners, providing solutions in areas of evolving risk, and delivering profitable growth”.
Since the start of 2025, OAK Re has reported writing approximately $400m in gross written premium.
The firm has established relationships with more than 400 clients and is in the process of expanding its team to nearly 50 professionals across various departments, including underwriting, capital and risk, and finance and operations.
