Coface in the UK and Ireland has hired John Nicholas as risk underwriting director. He will be leading the underwriting team, as well as liaising with the commercial team to support the needs of clients and brokers.

Nicholas joins from Stemcor Holdings, a global steel trading group, where he was credit risk director, responsible for the group’s risk management procedure. He has 30 years’ experience of credit risk management spanning both the client and insurer sides, having also worked for eight years at Euler Hermes.

His predecessor, Grant Williams, was named political risk director. His 25 years’ knowledge of credit risk underwriting will increase Coface in the UK and Ireland’s ability to meet the needs of their clients and brokers in this market.

“I’m delighted with both these appointments. John brings with him not only specialised credit insurance underwriting capability but an appreciation of the role of the credit function in businesses operating in a challenging economic and competitive environment. Grant’s appointment brings valuable credit risk underwriting skills to our political risk offer,” says Frédéric Bourgeois, managing director of Coface in the UK and Ireland.