Asta MGA platform launches Paul Witzenfeld facultative reinsurance venture March 17, 2021 by Asta Capital Categories Tags Asta, the leading third-party managing agent at Lloyd’s, is launching a new underwriting business led by London-market veteran Paul Witzenfeld via its flexible MGA platform. From 1 April 2021, the new business will begin accepting worldwide property facultative reinsurance risks with a focus on primary and first-layer placements. Business will be written against binding authority contracts backed by highly rated company-market capacity through Asta’s AUML licensed entity. Julian Tighe, chief executive officer of Asta, said: “We’re thrilled that Paul has decided to join us. His choice is testament to the flexibility and growing popularity of our MGA services. We’ve created a plug-and-play platform that rapidly accommodates the ambitions of entrepreneurial underwriters to embrace market opportunities as they emerge. It builds on the success of Arma Underwriting, launched in 2017 and writing MENA-region business, and the creation of David Ashby’s specialist equine insurer a year ago.” Witzenfeld, who began his life-long market career as a broker, joins from Castel Specialty. Previously, he was Pen Underwriting’s head of North American property, and a senior underwriter at ACE Global Markets and Liberty Syndicates. “I wanted to achieve maximum benefit from the hardening market by having a new business up and running in time for June 1 renewals,” he says. “In extremely short order, Asta has provided all of the complex services and experience necessary to launch an MGA, from licensing and compliance to actuarial and HR. As we discussed the challenges, they simply kept saying, ‘yes, we can do that’ and presenting practical solutions. Asta has made it happen.” For further information, please contact: Haggie Partners Damian Beeley Tel: +44 (0)207 562 4444 Damian.Beeley@haggie.co.uk Shipra Khanna Tel: +44 (0)207 562 4444 Shipra.Khanna@haggie.co.uk Notes for editors About Asta Asta Managing Agency Ltd is the leading third party managing agent at Lloyd’s and is responsible for 11 syndicates and three SPAs with capacity under management in 2021 of more than £1.3bn: Syndicate 1729 and SPA 6131 (Dale Underwriting Partners) Syndicate 2525 (IVE) Syndicate 2689 (Verto) Syndicate 2786 and SPA 1892 (Everest) Syndicate 4242 and SPA 6123 (Beat) Syndicate 5886 (Blenheim) Syndicate 3268 (Agora) Syndicate 1980 (Pioneer) Syndicate 2288 (Victor) Syndicate 4747 (Carbon) Syndicate 1609 (Mosaic) MGAs Asta Underwriting Management Limited (AUML) brings the skills, experience and capabilities of the leading third party managing agency at Lloyd’s to the MGA market. MGAs under management: Arma Underwriting Limited BPBUW Management (including David Ashby Underwriting) Our solutions Overview Syndicate Syndicate-in-a-Box Special Purpose Arrangement MGA Asta Europe Our services The Asta Advantage Case studies About us Our people Our culture and values Charity and community Our clients Careers Asta news Views & insights Contact Asta Remote Portal Complaints Claims Brexit Transfer COVID-19 Modern Slavery Statement Board Diversity Statement Inclusive Behaviours Pledge Company Details Disclaimer Privacy Notice > Asta Capital > Asta Europe © Asta Capital Ltd. 2021 We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Click agree to proceed and accept our use of Cookies as described in our Privacy policy. Click here for more information on our Privacy policy including how and why we use Cookies. Agree