Specialty MGA Africa & Middle East, part of MNK Group and a sister concern of Specialty MGA UK, has announced the appointment of two new senior underwriters as it strengthens its team in Casablanca.

Laila El Bahtouri has been appointed as the new Treaty Senior Underwriter, while Mohamed Bader Bouanani has been named as Senior Underwriter for Specialty Lines. Both will be in charge of the Africa and Middle East regions.

Laila El Bahtouri, based in the MGA’s Casablanca office, is an Actuary Fellow of the French Institute of Actuaries with 19 years of experience, including 14 years in the reinsurance business. She will drive Specialty MGA Africa & Middle East’s growth in P&C reinsurance markets, developing a balanced portfolio of specialist lines as she prioritises meeting client objectives.

Most recently, she worked at Moroccan National reinsurer SCR, spending five years as Executive Head of Domestic and African P&C Treaties. In this role she developed a deep understanding of the Moroccan and African markets. Before that, she worked more than eight years at SCOR Paris, where she occupied many positions, including Pricing Manager for the Middle East.

Mohamed Bader Bouanani will be responsible for driving Specialty MGA’s growth in specialty lines of business, and expanding its market presence in Africa and the Middle East. He holds an MBA from Texas Tech University in the US, and is an experienced underwriting professional, with a proven track record of more than 15 years in the reinsurance industry. He has held various leadership roles, most recently as Head of Specialty Lines at SCR.

Laila El Bahtouri, Treaty Senior Underwriter at Specialty MGA Africa & Middle East, said:

“African markets are ready for entrants that can provide new ideas, and Specialty MGA’s combination of local knowledge with international reach and expertise means it is in a great position to fill that gap. Our flexibility means that we can find quickly solutions that meet clients’ expectations.”

“The team is building an agile MGA that can respond rapidly to clients’ needs, and I’m excited to help them create new products and grow market share.”

Mohamed Bader Bouanani, Senior Underwriter for Specialty Lines at Specialty MGA Africa & Middle East, said:

“Specialty MGA is building a very strong team in Africa and the Middle East, and I’m excited to be able to work with the group and our clients to close the region’s coverage gap in specialty insurance.”

“As markets, Africa and the Middle East are increasingly dynamic and fast growing, meaning that there is plenty of opportunity for those that can transcend traditional boundaries.”

Specialty MGA Africa & Middle East was launched by CEO Youssef Fassi Fihri in September last year. Headquartered in London, it acts as a bridge between local markets and the London Market, offering specific solutions for the African and Middle Eastern markets.

Youssef Fassi Fihri, CEO at Specialty MGA Africa & Middle East, said:

“Laila and Mohamed are excellent additions to our team in Casablanca, and these appointments will further enhance our ability to offer brokers access to outstanding underwriting professionals. They have significant experience not just in the Moroccan market, but in insurance markets across Africa and the Middle East, and will play an important role as we expand our presence in the region.”

Manoj Kumar, MNK Group Chairman, said:

“MNK Group’s strength is that we are a diverse set of businesses that combine both international reach and regional expertise. Youssef is building an exciting team in Casablanca, which can provide market-leading solutions that unlock capacity in emerging markets.”