Luis MIGUEL Fernandes
Senior Marine Insurance Professional
Cape Town
Summary
Insurance professional with experience across non-life classes, mainly within Marine LoB (Underwriting, Claims and Development).
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
year of post-secondary education
Work History
Senior Underwriting Manager: Marine
Guardrisk
4 2024 - Current
- Promoted to Senior Underwriting Manager
- Responsible for Underwriting, Operations, Governance, issuing and maintaining mandates and all functions of head of sales
- Member of the Management Committee
- Member of the Claims Committee.
- Coordinated cross-functional projects aimed at improving overall business performance through innovative problem-solving approaches.
- Maximized revenue generation by optimizing pricing strategies based on risk profiles.
- Analyzed market trends to identify potential risks and opportunities for strategic business development initiatives.
- Reduced loss ratios while maintaining competitive rates through diligent risk selection and adherence to company guidelines.
- Managed a high-performing team of underwriters, providing guidance and support to ensure consistent results.
Head of Sales: Marine
Guardrisk
01.2022 - 03.2024
- Primarily responsible for developing the sales strategy and tactics to close identified business; Accountability for the overall achievement of performance objectives in the business area
- Facilitate the achievement of set targets by driving sales performance; Manage and drive the turnaround time in terms of targets to ensure a high sales performance; Manage the delivery of deviance reporting
- Assist team members, as necessary, by interacting with clients in order to facilitate Sales and Underwriting transactions; Communicate processes, control requirements, risk management frameworks and regulatory requirements that impact the Sales and Underwriting process
- Build and maintain relationships with clients and stakeholders; Make recommendations to align service offering with client needs; Manage a client service excellence culture which builds enduring relationships and allows the team to provide exceptional client service; Manage the introduction of new channels for client interaction in order to improve client services against service expectations
- Renewal management on large/complex accounts/structured facilities; Technical advisory & support on complex claims; Oversight of Reinsurance Inwards and Outwards placements; Risk surveys and identifying risk reduction requirements and imposing restrictive underwriting measures where required (i.e
- Punitive deductibles, reduction in capacity, removal of perils).
Regional Manager, Marine
Santam Insurance
11.2019 - 01.2022
- Primary responsibilities include: Sales and Technical Underwriting Leadership in the Coastal Region – Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Namibia)
- National Operations, Financial Reporting, Compliance, and Projects
- National Claims Oversight & Leadership (mid-May 2020 to mid-July 2021)
- Underwriting authority: ZAR250,000,000 – Cargo - maximum treaty capacity)
- ZAR 50,000,000 – Hull - maximum treaty capacity) ZAR 100,000,000 – Liabilities - maximum treaty capacity)
- Boosted brand growth by devising strategic network and marketing tactics.
- Developed and executed successful business plans that resulted in improved market share and profitability within the region.
- Collaborated with executive leadership to establish long-term objectives, drive growth initiatives, and align regional efforts with corporate goals.
- Managed P&L to decrease discrepancies and retain timely and under-budget project completion.
- Enhanced team performance by providing regular coaching, training, and performance feedback to staff members.
Manager: Business Development
Old Mutual Insure
05.2019 - 11.2019
- Distribution of Marine, Engineering & Travel Insurance
- Sales coaching & Leadership
- During this time I remained the Senior Market facing Underwriter for Marine Lines of Business.
- Generated new business with marketing initiatives and strategic plans.
- Negotiated and closed long-term agreements with new clients in assigned territory.
Specialist Portfolio Manager
Old Mutual Insure
05.2017 - 04.2019
- Managing the Marine Portfolio within West Coast Region
- New Business Development, Broker servicing, Research and Innovation
- Reporting, Rating and structuring of risks, Reinsurance placements (sourcing and securing on a facultative basis)
- Directing underwriting administration and claims where required
- Underwriting Authority: ZAR 100,000,000 (maximum treaty capacity).
Insurance Executive
DG Capital
10.2016 - 04.2017
- Insurance Executive – Brokering)
- Responsible for technical advisory, risk and needs analysis, structuring cover, product development, client servicing, developing and maintaining relationships with Lloyd's brokers, Underwriting Management Agencies (UMA's or known as MGA's in other markets), Insurers and service providers
- I gained valuable exposure to Mergers & Acquisition and Duty rebates (specifically Import Rebate Credit Certificates in the Automotive industry)
Chief Underwriter
International Commercial & Engineering – ICE
05.2015 - 09.2016
- Promoted from Underwriter: New Markets in August 2015
- Member of the Management Committee
- Underwriting (non-life), New Business Development (both direct and through a broker network), Reinsurance – Fronting and FAC placements, Special acceptances), Monitoring and controlling; Forecasting, budgeting and reporting; Mentoring, training and development of staff
- Rating and structuring of Corporate and Commercial business across classes including, but not limited to: Assets All Risk, Commercial Insurance, Casualty and Financial Lines, Marine, and Personal Lines
- Underwriting Authority – USD 35,000,000 – maximum treaty capacity).
Marine Underwriter & Broker Consultant
Hollard Insurance
04.2011 - 04.2015
- Managed underwriting, risk analysis, and administration for marine insurance lines, leading to acquisition by Hollard in January 2014
- Enhanced regional service for marine markets in the Western and Eastern Cape and Africa through strategic advisory and consulting
- Executed reinsurance strategies, both locally and internationally, to optimize coverage and cost-efficiency
- Strengthened retention and relationships, ensuring effective portfolio management by negotiating risk exposures and implementing risk management tools
- Supported credit control efforts in reducing aged debtors and fulfilled various managerial tasks, aiding in business development back-up functions
- Oversaw scheme management, compliance, and agency maintenance, promoting quality control, renewals, and risk management through surveys.
Marine Underwriter
Santam
03.2009 - 02.2011
- Underwriting Administration – Cargo, Hull, Transit, Liabilities)
- Allocation of workflow to Underwriting Team
- General Office administration.
Education
Advanced Diploma - Management
Mancosa
Cape Town, South Africa 01.2024 - Current
Advanced Certificate, Management Studies - undefined
Mancosa
Cape Town, South Africa 01.2023 - 2023.04
Higher Certificate - Short Term Insurance
Milpark Business School
Cape Town, South Africa 01.2016 - 2018.04
Certificate - Engineering Insurance
Munich Reinsurance Company of Africa
Mauritius 01.2015 - 2015.04
National Certificate - Short Term (non-life) Insurance
Moonstone Business School of Excellence
Cape Town, South Africa 01.2009 - 2010.04
Skills
Timeline
Advanced Diploma - Management
Mancosa
01.2024 - Current
Advanced Certificate, Management Studies - undefined
Mancosa
01.2023 - 2023.04
Head of Sales: Marine
Guardrisk
01.2022 - 03.2024
Regional Manager, Marine
Santam Insurance
11.2019 - 01.2022
Manager: Business Development
Old Mutual Insure
05.2019 - 11.2019
Specialist Portfolio Manager
Old Mutual Insure
05.2017 - 04.2019
Insurance Executive
DG Capital
10.2016 - 04.2017
Higher Certificate - Short Term Insurance
Milpark Business School
01.2016 - 2018.04
Chief Underwriter
International Commercial & Engineering – ICE
05.2015 - 09.2016
Certificate - Engineering Insurance
Munich Reinsurance Company of Africa
01.2015 - 2015.04
Marine Underwriter & Broker Consultant
Hollard Insurance
04.2011 - 04.2015
Marine Underwriter
Santam
03.2009 - 02.2011
National Certificate - Short Term (non-life) Insurance
Moonstone Business School of Excellence
01.2009 - 2010.04
Senior Underwriting Manager: Marine
Guardrisk
4 2024 - Current
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