Bernie de Haldevang

Bernie de Haldevang
Bernie de Haldevang, Underwriter, Atrium
Before joining Atrium Underwriting plc to establish a new financial and political risk underwriting unit in October 2005, Bernard de Haldevang set up a consultancy company, Cross Border Risk Agency Limited, in early 2005, which he continues to run. Prior to that he spent just under four years as head of a new diplomatic mission in Kenya, having been appointed the founding CEO of Africa’s first multilateral investment insurance and export credit agency in August 200. The agency, African Trade Insurance Agency (“ATI”), also known as “Africa’s Export Credit Agency”, is a World Bank and EU backed initiative, and a development agency. During his tenure, ATI grew from 7 African member countries to 11, plus 4 corporate shareholders and covered over $120 million of new projects, trade and investment contracts into the world’s poorest countries. These would not have secured bank financing without ATI’s support.

In the 18 years prior to this, he was a broker and subsequently a war, financial and political risk underwriter in companies at Lloyd's. He was educated at Downside School in Somerset, England, and then began to read Philosophy, Psychology, Modern Languages and Astronomy at Trinity College, Melbourne University, Australia. Before completing his degree, he returned to the UK and joined De Pinna, a London-based law firm specialising in European commercial and family law, as an articled clerk (trainee lawyer). After a subsequent two-year stint as a broker with Investment Insurance International (Managers) Limited, the specialist political risk broking subsidiary of the Lloyd's Broker Hogg Robinson plc, he was invited in 1985 to join the Lloyd's Broker Berry Palmer & Lyle Limited, a specialist political risk and credit insurance broking group, which he left after 11 years as a director and shareholder.

In 1996 he accepted an offer to underwrite at Lloyd's and was appointed Deputy to the Active Underwriter for Syndicate 1028, a Lloyd's syndicate managed by Wellington Underwriting Agencies Limited (now part of Catlin). He was responsible for political risks, contract frustration, trade credit, war, political violence and kidnap and ransom and detention insurance. He was subsequently appointed to the Board of Wellington, responsible for Marine Hull, Marine Cargo, Special Risks and War, Financial & Political Risks.
Last updated on 24 Oct 2007