Pikl, a specialist InsurTech focused on the vacation rental market, has appointed Steve McGuinness as its new chief operating officer (COO) and James Everett as chief underwriting officer (CUO).
The dual appointments aim to bolster the leadership team and support the company’s ambitious growth trajectory following the launch of its B2B business for short-term rentals in 2023, according to Travolution.
Based in the UK, Pikl provides tailored insurance products for the vacation rental and sharing economy sectors.
The company has been at the forefront of closing protection gaps for hosts on platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo, while also offering white-labelled solutions for partners in the property and insurance sectors.
McGuinness will oversee the overall management and operations of the business, with a focus on scaling, organisational design, performance management, and risk oversight.
Everett, meanwhile, will be responsible for Pikl’s underwriting function, including capacity, pricing, and strategic underwriting development to meet growing market demand.
McGuinness brings decades of executive-level experience from major insurers and financial institutions including Saga, Auto & General, Chubb and RBS. His role will be pivotal in delivering the company’s operational strategy as it evolves to meet increasing customer demands.
Everett previously served as deputy head of underwriting at Canopius Group and is a seasoned professional in the London and specialty markets, particularly in vacation rental and holiday let insurance. His extensive experience will guide the company in structuring underwriting and capacity strategies to support Pikl’s expansion.
The appointments come as Pikl builds momentum in the B2B vacation rental insurance space and seeks to deepen its reach through new partnerships and markets.
Pikl COO Steve McGuinness said, “I am thrilled to be joining the Pikl team on what promises to be a very exciting next few years for the business. Pikl is rapidly evolving to meet the demands of customers, and we now need to create strategies to execute this growth. Innovation and speed to market are going to be key disciplines in our armoury and I hope that my experience and skillset will help the company realise its undoubted potential.”
Pikl CUO James Everett said, “I am delighted to have joined Pikl at a very pivotal point in its evolution, where we are seeing considerable demand for our products. My focus will be on creating the right capacity and delegated authority structures to enable our growth and deliver the right insurance solutions for consumers and businesses operating in vacation rentals.”
Pikl CEO and founder Louise Birritteri said, “I am very pleased to welcome Steve and James to the Pikl leadership team. The next few years are set to be ones of rapid growth for us as we deliver new partnerships, expand our markets and capitalise on the significant demand we are seeing for our products. Both Steve and James are seasoned insurance professionals who possess deep domain experience, particularly within the specialty and global insurance landscape. Their appointments align perfectly with Pikl’s growth ambitions, particularly in scaling operations and delivering insurance products solutions.”
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