Commercial Express has launched a new delegated authority schemes division, giving brokers the ability to develop and bring specialist and niche insurance schemes to market. The MGA said the new division will provide brokers with access to underwriting expertise and capacity, with a focus on opportunities requiring greater flexibility and speed to market.

The division will be led by Nicki Crabb, who joins Commercial Express from Covéa, where she was head of eTrade and schemes trading. She has experience across SME, delegated authority schemes, underwriting and sales.

Commercial Express said it has already identified a pipeline of potential schemes with brokers and has extended its authority from existing capacity providers to support the development of new business. The new division will have capacity from Fortegra and Ascot.

Duncan Pritchard, founder and managing director of Commercial Express, said: “The launch of our schemes division marks a significant development in Commercial Express’ evolution from an MGA towards a full-service MGU. We have been approached by brokers with opportunities for delegated authority schemes that we have not previously had the capability, experience or capacity to support, and we can now offer a dedicated proposition built around those opportunities.

“Importantly, we remain broker-focused and relationship-led. Our aim is to provide a business that brokers can work with quickly and flexibly, backed by excellent capacity and the underwriting expertise needed to develop sustainable schemes.”