We have often said that we believe underwriting excellence starts with its people. The kind who know their markets inside out, who have sat on both sides of the table and understand how to build something with long-term value.
In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, that belief is driving real momentum, and now, two strategic appointments are taking that pace even further.
Building Something Different in Dubai
Less than one year after Rokstone DIFC received regulatory approval from the DFSA, the operation has quickly become known as one of the most dynamic MGAs in the region. The aim? To create a high-performance, specialty platform rooted in deep technical expertise and supported by A-rated capacity, serving MENA brokers and carriers with a distinctly local approach.
The mission is now strengthened by the arrival of Giles Hussey as Senior Executive Officer of Rokstone DIFC and Kamil Mammadov as Head of Short Tail Lines. Together, they bring decades of on-the-ground experience and shared ambition to build something different in the region.
Meet Giles
With a career spanning London, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, Giles Hussey is no stranger to creating standout platforms in emerging markets. With more than 20 years of experience in the MENA region, Giles brings a 35 year global insurance career spanning reinsurance broking and underwriting.
From his early days in the London Market as an energy broker at JLT Specialty, to leadership roles at Marsh, Lancashire, Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, and most recently Guy Carpenter, where he was Head of Facultative IMEA, Giles has always had an eye for growth and innovation.
His appointment reflects our confidence in the region and our commitment to providing a fresh alternative to brokers and clients.
“We are excited to have Giles on board,” said Ian Anson, Global CEO of Rokstone. “With Giles at the helm, we have secured an ideal partner in the region. His character and ambition reflect the Rokstone culture, and his deep expertise is ideally placed to support our growth in the region.”
Meet Kamil
Working alongside Giles will be Kamil Mammadov, who joins as Head of Short Tail lines. Kamil brings more than 20 years of underwriting experience in the MENA region alone, latterly as Chief Underwriting Officer at Barents Re.
His background includes senior positions at Oman Insurance Company, Qatar Insurance Company and AIG, as well as almost a decade with Chartis Azerbaijan, where he was Underwriting Manager for Energy, Marine, Property, Financial Lines and Liability.
“We’re delighted to welcome Kamil on board,” added Ian Anson. “His broad Specialty experience, and on short tail lines in particular, will further expand our offering in the region to help balance our portfolio. Kamil fits our culture and will be a great addition to the team.”
Kamil himself sees this as a natural move: “Rokstone is an exciting MGA. Its people are respected the world over, it has a great brand - people like doing business with Rokstone, and they live up to the hype. That counts for a lot in this market.”
Looking to the Future
This is about more than adding senior talent to the team. It reflects a deliberate investment in building a platform with the right people, capacity and culture to support brokers in one of the most dynamic insurance regions in the world.
It will offer a broad range of Specialty risk solutions, including Direct and Facultative, Property, Construction, Aviation, Marine Cargo and Energy. With Giles and Kamil on board, Rokstone DIFC is well positioned to grow and deliver on our promise of smarter underwriting, strong partnerships and faster service for MENA and beyond.
Want to find out more about what we are building in Dubai? Contact the team today because we are just getting started.
