Managing general agent Ventis has launched in Scotland and appointed Karen Feeney (pictured) as senior development underwriter to oversee underwriting and distribution in the Scottish market from a base in Glasgow. Ventis has a focus on providing cover for the commercial and residential property markets.

Feeney joins from Carrolls, where she was senior commercial underwriter and grew connections in Scotland and Northern Ireland to write a broad property portfolio book of business.

Last year the MGA expanded its footprint into the Irish market and wrote £12.5m in premium. It said it wanted to replicate this success in Scotland.

Gareth Roberts, CEO of Ventis, said: “We have identified the Scottish market as an area with strong growth potential. While our UK binder has always allowed operations across the UK, the establishment of a local market presence in Scotland for the first time will increase our ability to write business in the country, as well as in the closely linked Northern Irish market.

“Our £50m capacity on a five-year rolling basis allows us to be ambitious in our growth strategy – the doubling of our team in less than two years and our expansion into new regional markets is testament to that.”