Southern Marine, a program administrator within Starwind Specialty, announces the appointment of Sharron West as Head of Claims. This strategic move marks a major milestone in Southern Marine’s evolution, reflecting its commitment to operational excellence and enhanced service delivery.
West brings over 45 years of marine cargo claims experience across both the London and U.S. markets. Her distinguished career includes roles as a Lloyd’s Broker, Cargo Claims Adjuster at the Lloyd’s Claims Office, and, most recently, Principal Adjuster for Marine Insurance. She is a Chartered Insurance Practitioner, an Associateship holder with the Chartered Insurance Institute, and a former President of the Houston Claims Association. West also holds a license as a Texas Adjuster and is a member of the Houston Maritime Arbitration Association.
“Welcoming Sharron to lead our claims function is more than an operational change; it reflects our commitment to service and accountability,” said Graham Jenks, President of JH Blades Group. “Her leadership, track record, and technical depth will help us deliver a best-in-class claims experience.”
Launching an in-house claims management team represents a strategic shift from Southern Marine’s previous reliance on a third-party administrator. This move enables greater ownership of the claims process, stronger integration with underwriting, and enhanced responsiveness for brokers, clients, and carrier partners.
With real-time access to claims data, Southern Marine will be better positioned to inform underwriting decisions, identify adverse trends early, and streamline workflows through a dedicated claims system. West will be based in Houston and report directly to Jenks.
About Southern Marine
Southern Marine is a program administrator within CRC Group’s Starwind Specialty, delivering a variety of insurance solutions to clients across the Bulk Liquid Cargo & Storage, General Cargo, and Stock Throughput segments. Learn more at www.southernmarineinsurance.com.
About Starwind Specialty
Starwind Specialty Insurance Services is one of the largest program management operations in North America, providing distribution partners and insureds unique, specialty products across multiple industries with a full suite ofservices - underwriting, distribution, and claims management. Learn more at www.starwindins.com.
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