Groupama Insurances, the UK operating arm of French insurance firm Groupama, has created a dedicated new business underwriting team for London and the South, providing commercial brokers in the region with access to underwriters for open market business.

Groupama has said that the new team complements the London schemes team and Groupama’s schemes and open market business underwriting team in Manchester.

The new Southern underwriting team comprises three underwriters, Therese Crowhurst, Steve Scrimgeour and Darren Carter, reporting to Dawn Dillaway, head of commercial underwriting.

Crowhurst and Scrimgeour will focus on non-motor SME commercial business. Crowhurst has worked for Groupama for three years and brings knowledge of schemes business. Scrimgeour has relocated from Groupama’s underwriting center in Manchester and brings commercial SME underwriting experience. Darren Carter will join Groupama Insurances from AIG.

Dillaway said this team has been put in place to write new business with Groupama’s existing broker partners in London and the South while developing new broker relationships, working with the key account managers.