LONDON, UK: 08:00 GMT, 6 October 2025 – Bondaval has named Simon Philpin as its new Group Chief Commercial Underwriting Officer to spearhead the next stage of its commercial expansion.
Starting early December, Philpin will be responsible for expanding Bondaval’s global commercial footprint, driving increased premium growth across all sectors and geographies, and developing and executing the company’s commercial strategy. Based in the United Kingdom, he will report into Thomas Powell, CEO.
The appointment comes shortly after news of Bondaval’s long-term, global partnership with Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, which adds to Bondaval’s offering the strength of Swiss Re Group’s corporate rating and capital base, while laying the foundation for further international expansion. It also follows the company’s rapid growth in recent years, with Bondaval having already scaled its underwriting and technology capabilities to serve clients across multiple territories.
Philpin joins Bondaval after 11 years at Markel, where he held a variety of senior roles, mostly recent that of Director of Trade Credit. During that time, he led a global team of 25 underwriters, built strong broker relationships, and drove international expansion, including into new jurisdictions for the insurer.
With more than 25 years of experience in analysing and insuring credit risk, Philpin has successfully bound policies across every continent except Antarctica, gaining deep international experience. He has also played a pivotal role in global expansion, as well as developing and mentoring underwriting talent across regions.
In addition to his underwriting and strategic leadership, Philpin has significant experience in business development with large, global clients, designing bespoke credit insurance policies tailored to their needs. He also plans to further strengthen Bondaval’s relationships with its broker partners, building on his extensive network of industry contacts.
Simon joins Bondaval at a pivotal moment. He combines decades of international expertise with the determination, drive, and leadership needed to deliver at scale. As we expand globally, his vision and energy will play a central role in helping us transform not only our business, but also the wider credit insurance industry.
What excites me most about joining Bondaval is the sheer scale of the opportunity ahead. The company is not only redefining how trade credit insurance is delivered but also reshaping the global market for the long term. We have the chance to build a truly industry-leading business with unmatched reach, capability, and innovation — and I am eager to help drive that ambition forward.
