Optio Group, the specialty MGA, today announces the promotion of Kevin Cleary to the role of chief operating officer, effective immediately.

Cleary, who was previously chief information officer (CIO), will be responsible for Optio’s technology infrastructure and ongoing digital development. He will also oversee central functions such as compliance, underwriting management and marketing, and continue to work with the executive team to enable Optio to realise its strategic ambitions.

As CIO, Cleary led and managed Optio’s technology strategy, ensuring the company’s digital ecosystem supports all business units and corporate goals. He brings more than 20 years’ of industry experience to the role, having held senior positions in Lloyd’s syndicates, multi-national insurers and MGAs.

Matthew Fosh, executive chairman, Optio group said: “It genuinely gives me great pleasure to announce Kevin’s richly deserved appointment to this important role. Kevin has been a key figure in the development of Optio, helping to build it into the well-diversified, digitally enabled specialty MGA it is today. Optio is now on a very exciting trajectory and I look forward to working with him to further develop the business as it grows ever closer to realising its tremendous potential.”