MGA Clearwater Underwriting has announced the appointment of Henry MacHale to the role of Chief Executive Officer, a newly created role. MacHale is expected to take up the role in the second quarter of 2027.
He is currently Chief Underwriting Officer & Head of Strategy, International Markets at Sompo and will leave the organization ahead of taking up his new position.
Clearwater, which is an Aquiline-backed Managing General Agent, said that his appointment marked “an important step in Clearwater’s development as the Aquiline-backed MGA looks to build on the platform it has established and pursue its ambitions for the business”.
Clearwater is looking to expand from its established marine roots into a broader range of specialty and niche classes. The business plans to grow through a combination of new underwriting capabilities, expansion into selected classes and markets, and targeted M&A, supported by strong broker and capacity relationships.
Prior to working at Sompo, MacHale held senior roles at Aspen, including Portfolio Director for First Party & Specialty lines, CUO for AIUK Insurance, and Group Chief Strategy Officer, where he was closely involved in the private equity-backed liquidity event process.
Clearwater Underwriting CUO Richard Young said that “the appointment of Henry as our Chief Executive Officer marks an important milestone for Clearwater. We have built a strong business with an experienced team and see significant opportunity for its continued development. Henry’s understanding of the specialty insurance market, commercial perspective and experience of businesses at different stages of growth and evolution make him a natural fit for Clearwater”.
MacHale said that he was “extremely grateful to Sompo for the opportunities and experience I have gained during my time with the organization. It has been a privilege to work as part of a leading global balance-sheet business, and I wish the team all the best for the ongoing growth and success of the business.”