Alex Smith Named Carrick Group COO
Carrick Group has appointed Alex Smith as Chief Operating Officer, succeeding Phil Hernon, who will continue as Chief Commercial Officer effective November 1, 2026.
A spokesperson said, “Carrick Group Limited [“Carrick”], a Bermuda-based international non-life legacy insurer, has announced that Senior Vice President, Operations, Alex Smith, has succeeded Phil Hernon as Chief Operating Officer [COO].
“Mr. Hernon, who has been with Carrick since it was founded in 2019, previously served as both COO and Chief Commercial Officer. Effective 1 November, 2026, he continues as Chief Commercial Officer.
“Chief Executive Officer Tom Nichols said that Carrick had a large number of potential transactions in the pipeline, and the company was responding to this growth potential by allowing Mr. Hernon to focus on new business opportunities.
“Mr. Smith, who is based in London, has been in the insurance industry since 1997, and his previous companies include Liberty Special Markets, Brit, Swiss Re, Pen Underwriting and PoloWorks.”
“As Carrick continues to grow and evolve, the time is right for me to hand over the COO responsibilities to someone who also has a deep understanding of our business, culture, people, and underwriting philosophy,” said Mr. Hernon. “Alex has been with Carrick for over a year, but long before his arrival he was identified as the natural successor to me in this role.
“I am delighted to be passing the COO responsibilities to someone who is exceptionally capable, knowledgeable and committed. This transition will allow me to focus fully on my role as Chief Commercial Officer, strengthening relationships across the global market and supporting Carrick’s next phase of growth. I do so with complete confidence, knowing that the operational leadership of the business is in very capable hands.”
Mr. Smith said: “I am very pleased and honoured to take on the role of Chief Operating Officer and I’m grateful to Phil for his support and guidance, both before and since I joined Carrick. My priority as COO is to maintain the strong operational foundation that Phil has built, and to ensure that we continue to onboard and integrate new transactions efficiently as the business grows. I look forward to working closely with Tom, Phil, and the rest of the team in the next stage of Carrick’s development.”
Mr. Nichols added: “As a result of Phil’s hard work, talent and industry network, Carrick is well-positioned for future success. Separating out the COO and Chief Commercial Officer roles allows Carrick to focus on new opportunities as the company expands. Alex has demonstrated that he is ready and capable to lead the operations team as COO as Carrick continues to grow through exciting opportunities.”
