The Team

Matthew Maxwell Chief Executive Officer
Based in the UK

Matthew started Arrow Underwriting Agency in November 2019 and becomes our Chief Executive Officer. Matthew has over thirty four years’ underwriting experience in the Insurance sector. Matthew’s previous experience has encompassed various underwriting roles including Leading Class Underwriter and Chief Underwriting Officer working with Lloyd’s of London syndicates and London company markets.

Matthew started his career at the Harvey Bowring Syndicate (later becoming Amlin Plc then MS Amlin) in 1986 and worked in property before moving to Auto. Matthew spent 24 years at MS Amlin before successfully launching his own MGU in 2010 and managed various classes until the sale of his ownership in 2015. Prior to starting Arrow Underwriting Agency Matthew ran MPM Consulting.

Geoff Thrower Senior Property Underwriter
Based in the UK

Geoff joined Arrow Underwriting Agency Limited in February 2021. He began his insurance career in February 1986 with Lloyd’s of London’s Denham Syndicate, with whom he progressed to become deputy Underwriter in 2000.

In 2004 Geoff joined the Gerling Syndicate where he was tasking with improving the fortunes of their then underperforming Property portfolio, which he did so very successfully whilst also building out a market respected, experienced and efficient underwriting team. During this time, following the acquisitions of various Lloyd's Syndicates he also seamlessly managed the integration of several portfolios of Property business into his existing account.

Since 2004 Geoff has specialised in and headed up North American & Caribbean Property delegated authority teams, most recently at the AmTrust Syndicate.

Throughout his career Geoff has worked extensively with the Lloyd's Property committees, including sitting on the NMA/LMA Canadian Business Panel for over ten years, four years of which he served as its Chairman.

Geoff is ACII qualified.

Catherine Wood Claims Manager
Based in the UK and USA

Catherine graduated from Queen Mary, University of London in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Medieval History. She then began her career in the London Insurance Market in 2006 working for HSBC Insurance Brokers Limited as a Junior Claims Technician in the High Net Worth Estates and Private Clients Division. In 2008 she moved to Miller Insurance Services Limited to take on the role of Claims Technician within the Programmes and Facilities Division. Then in 2011 she joined White Oak Underwriting Agency Limited as a Claims Technician, progressing in 2012 to became Claims Supervisor, the role she held until the end of her tenure with them in 2020.

She has experience handling and adjusting claims arising from a variety of classes of business and territories, with her most recent experience dedicated to adjusting losses originating from North American based Commercial Auto Physical Damage, Motor Truck Cargo, Forestry Equipment, Dealers Open Lot and Garage Keepers Legal Liability risks.

She currently holds the CII Diploma in insurance and is working towards achieving her ACII Qualification.

Craig Patterson Non-Executive Chairman
Based in Australia

Craig began his insurance career in 1982 before heading to university to study for a bachelor of business with a major in insurance. He then moved to Sydney and ran the corporate / global account business for NZI in 1991 before being promoted to head claims for Australia in 1994. In 1997 he was promoted to the General Accident Group Head office as the Manager, Group Underwriting in Scotland. Following the merger of GA & CU Craig moved to London to take up the same role in the expanded group before moving to the Head of Group Reinsurance for Aviva in 2000. Craig returned to Australia in 2004 to the Head of Treaty for Benfield in Australia & New Zealand and following the takeover of Benfield by Aon, became the President of Treaty in Australia.

Craig then joined Austagencies the underwriting arm of listed insurance broker Austbrokers (now AUB) to become its General Manager. He established AustRe the group’s reinsurance vehicle in 2010. Austagencies was rebranded as SURA under Craig’s watch & grew into one of the largest MGA’s in Australia.

Craig is still a director of various MGA’s in Australia where he provides his underwriting & management expertise to these businesses.