QBE Europe has consolidated its operating structure into three divisions and moved to fill the gap in its underwriting management caused by the move of Chief Underwriting Officer John Neal to CEO Group Global Underwriting Operations in Sydney.

The European division has consolidated its operations around three underwriting divisions: property, casualty and motor; marine, energy and aviation; and reinsurance.

Ash Bathia, Colin O’Farrell and Jonathan Parry will assume the roles of chief underwriting officers for the three new divisions.

MD Property Bernard Mageean – who joined QBE in June 2008 from RSA, where he had been Commercial Underwriting Director – has left QBE following the consolidation of his division.

The Insurance Times in London quoted Mr Mageean saying earlier this month that QBE wants to be a top-five property insurer in the UK market.

CEO European Operations Steve Burns says the three new chief underwriting officers are “all vastly experienced and proven in their fields”.

He also praised Mr Neal’s “outstanding contribution to the [European operation’s]  underwriting success over recent years. It is fantastic that he has been given the opportunity to take up a new global role for QBE.”