Our Team
Neil Attwood
Active Underwriter
Neil has worked in the Lloyd’s (or London) market since 1987. Since this time Neil has held various underwriting positions including Active Underwriter of Broadgate syndicate 1301. During this time Neil was a main Board member of the Managing Agency and was responsible for a diverse insurance and reinsurance portfolio including Property Treaty, Property Direct and Fac as well as PA Cat, Marine, General Aviation and Excess Casualty.
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Neil joined GIC Re in October 2017 to take the lead in establishing the Lloyd’s syndicate for April 2018 and is responsible for all Syndicate matters.
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Away from work, Neil can usually be found living out P.G. Wodehouse’s quote: “to find a man’s true character, play golf with him”. Neil always welcomes new opportunities to put this to the test.
Rob Dennison
Treaty Underwriter
Rob joined the (re)insurance industry in 2017, having graduated with a degree in Politics and International Relations from Oxford Brookes. He spent two years at a global insurer, working on the direct property side. In 2020 he joined a Lloyd’s Syndicate, initially as an Underwriting Assistant and later as Assistant Underwriter, working on the International Property Treaty portfolio, with a particular focus on the Canadian book. Rob joined Syndicate 1947 in 2024 as a Treaty Underwriter, he underwrites Property Treaty on a worldwide basis.
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​Outside of work Rob is a keen runner and enjoys following the fortunes (or misfortunes) of his hometown club Newcastle United.
Taylor Emirali
Syndicate Assistant
Taylor joined the syndicate in May 2018 as a Syndicate assistant which incorporates assisting the underwriters with slip administration together with the invaluable role of receptionist; Taylor’s previous experience as cabin crew makes her very well equipped for this role.
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Out of the office Taylor can be found getting creative or with a good book in hand.
Scott Goozee
Senior Underwriter - Direct & Facultative
Scott has worked as an underwriter in the London market since graduating from university in 2008. He has written property business for several syndicates within Lloyd’s and more recently at RSA Insurance where he successfully managed the Wholesale US and International D&F team for three years from 2018. Scott has joined GIC to help develop the US open market portfolio as well as assist in the growth of the International book using his experience and relationships built up in his career so far. Reading Actuarial Science at Cass Business School, Scott has a strong analytical background, which, coupled with the underwriting experience and training throughout his career, has given him a broad skill set to aid his underwriting thought process and decision-making.
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Outside the office, Scott enjoys experimenting in the kitchen cooking various types of cuisine, undertaking home improvement DIY projects of varying complexity (and success!), and also likes to play golf with friends and business contacts when he finds time.
Pete Graham
Head of International Casualty
Pete joined GIC Re in August 2024 to underwrite and manage the International Casualty Insurance Portfolio.
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Pete has worked as an underwriter in the London market since graduating from university in 2001. Having worked at several different syndicates over the years, he has benefitted from exposure to many different geographies, industrial trades and broker/client relationships and now uses all this experience in his day to day underwriting at the Lloyd’s box.
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​Outside the office, Pete spends his time engaged in a variety of volunteer sports coaching and team managing roles with his children. Having been a keen participant in many sports for the past 30 years, he enjoys putting something back into the grassroots now.
Ian Haslam
Head of Property - Direct & Facultative
Ian brings over 20 years of experience in the global D&F market to Syndicate 1947. During that time Ian has travelled extensively to all corners of the world, building relationships with both clients and brokers as well as an in-depth understanding of their risks and insurance needs. These core relationships lie at the heart of the syndicate’s target portfolio. Ian has developed sophisticated analytical tools in conjunction with actuaries, as well as enhancing the team’s expertise on coverage and wording issues.
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Ian enjoys relaxing in his garden, bringing the same attention to detail to the rosebeds as he does to his clients.
Samuel Herbert
Head of Property Treaty
Sam started his career in GIC Re UK Branch in 2014 writing both Property & Marine Treaty business domiciled in Europe & the Caribbean. He moved to Syndicate 1947 in 2018 at its inception. Currently, Sam writes a worldwide treaty book covering both Property and Specialty lines.
Sarah Howard
Syndicate Management Executive
Sarah has worked in the Lloyd’s (London) market her entire career, with most of this spent as a syndicate manager. During this time she has been a member of a Managing Agent’s Executive Committee and over the years has been exposed to most functions within both large and small Managing Agencies and Lloyd’s Syndicates with an emphasis on business planning and oversight of the underwriting operations. Sarah joined GIC 1947 in November 2018 as Syndicate Manager having worked with Neil Attwood before in previous roles.
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Sarah’s time away from work she can be found on her yoga/pilates mat or exercising her rescue dog Pepper.
Tom Jackson
Head of Non-Marine Specialty
Tom started his reinsurance career at CT Bowring Re in 1989, handling European P&C Treaty placements. Joining Everest Re in 1996 to help on both property and casualty accounts, Tom also adjusted claims while developing a general miscellaneous portfolio. Tom has been involved in management since 2004, both at Everest Re and at Tokio Millennium Re. He joined the syndicate in the summer of 2019 to underwrite a range of non-marine casualty and speciality classes, primarily within the scope of Lloyd’s Blueprint One follow market initiatives.
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Tom is a keen amateur naturalist, easily distracted by any passing animal or bird. He also remains loyal to Gloucester rugby club for reasons he cannot explain.
Francis Lazarides
Exposure Management Analyst
Francis joined the syndicate in November 2022 to start his career in Exposure Management. With a degree in Geology from the University of Portsmouth, and an MSc in Geophysical Hazards from University College London, Francis brings modern knowledge of natural perils with a focus on Geotechnical and Geological hazards. Combining his educational background with a stint as a Junior Engineering Geologist, Francis has learned how to transform theoretical studies into real-world methods for evaluating and mitigating hazards. Alongside this, a deep interest in global politics means he is well-versed in geopolitical trends and conflict.
Outside of work Francis can be found at live music events, exploring the natural world with his dog and spending quality time with his family and friends.
David Martin
Head of Marine and Energy Reinsurance
David joined GIC in October 2025 to underwrite and manage the Marine and Energy Reinsurance portfolio.
David has worked in the industry for over 40 years. He has worked for both syndicates and companies on both the insurance and reinsurance side. He focuses on foreign business that does not have the historical accumulations of the London book and offers diversification away from the property offering. During his years in the market he has travelled extensively worldwide building up relationships with both clients and broker. This has proved invaluable in risk selection which has driven his historically profitable portfolio.
David enjoys keeping fit at the gym and is a keen rugby and football supporter.
Rikesh Mistry
Marine and Energy Reinsurance Underwriter
Rik is a Maths graduate from the University of Birmingham, starting his Insurance career on the actuarial pricing side in 2019 for Argo S1200. He later moved to work closely on pricing Reinsurance, particularly David Martin’s Marine Re book. He made the move over to the Underwriting side at the end of 2023 to help David write the Marine and Energy treaty book. He joined GIC Re S1947 in January 2026.
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Outside of work, Rik has a love for travel, food and most importantly, sport. Always keen to try something new, he has recently taken up golf and tennis alongside his true passions: cricket and football. N.B. his love for travel does not include the commute from his home in Leicestershire!
Joe Nicholass
Head of Exposure Management
A graduate in Geology from the University of Cardiff, Joe started his career in the Lloyd’s insurance market with Sagicor at Lloyd’s in 2012. Working in the catastrophe modelling team, he predominantly focused on both Property D&F and North American binder business. Moving to Pembroke Managing Agency’s Exposure Management team in 2015 provided Joe with the opportunity to work across 4 separate Lloyd’s syndicates, as well as to manage a wider breadth of business classes. Joe worked with the GIC 1947 syndicate from its inception whilst at Pembroke and later had the opportunity to join the team in March 2021 as its first in-house Exposure Management resource.
Outside of work, Joe enjoys many outdoor activities such as cycling and golf (when his young family’s busy schedule permits!)
Graham Pascoe
Deputy Head of Claims
Graham has worked in the Lloyd’s (London) market his entire career with nearly 40 years experience within the claims arena, both as a broker and Syndicate claims manager. Graham started his career within the Treaty Claims world before switching to International Property D&F and Specie. Over the last 15 years, he was the deputy claims manager at Syndicate 1301 responsible for multi-class interests, has held senior roles in a number of syndicates which culminated in claims manager for all short tail claims at Riverstone Managing Agency.
Outside of work, Graham spends his time with his family and enjoys walking his two dogs. He also enjoys cycling and going to the gym.
Neil Presland
Head of Claims
Neil joined GIC Re 1947 syndicate in May 2022 bringing with him almost 40 years of claims experience, the last 16 of which were gained in senior claims management roles within the Lloyd’s market.
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Joining from Asta Managing Agency where for over 7 years he had responsibility for claims oversight of all their managed syndicates, Neil is well versed in dealing with the claims function requirements of young syndicates. Prior to Asta, Neil helped create a new Managing Agency for Syndicate 1301 when it migrated from Chaucer. As the syndicate grows, Neil looks forward to creating a claims team that will provide real added value to our clients, brokers, underwriters, Managing Agent and regulators.
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Outside of work, Neil is more likely to be found either polishing his modern classic car or pottering around his motorhome, than driving either.
Richard Sands
Deputy Head of Claims
Richard has 40 years experience in the London Insurance Industry. He has held management positions in both Casualty and Professional Risks Claims at several Lloyd’s syndicates and has extensive experience in professional risks claims management on a world wide basis.
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Away from the office Richard enjoys sailing and Golf and Cycling in his leisure time.
Shelly Leake
International Casualty Underwriter
Shelly joined GIC Re in May 2025 to work in the International Casualty Team.
Shelly started her London Market Insurance career working in Casualty Claims before moving into broking. After spending a couple of years broking War, Terrorism and Political Violence insurance she moved back into liability as an International Casualty Broker. Most recently she was a Senior Casualty Broker at a small broking firm before joining GIC Re. Throughout this time she has had exposure to different geographies and trades giving her a breadth of experience which she now utilises when underwriting.
