Dave Keeling has taken
over as chief operating
officer of Associated
Marine,
following the
resignation of
Mike Brews.
Wellknown
in
the marine
insurance
industry,
Keeling was born and
educated in Liverpool. He
transferred to South Africa
in 1977 and has notched
up more than 40
years’ experience
in the industry. He
has played an active
role on a number
of industry-related
bodies, most notably
heading up the Association
of Marine Underwriters
of SA (Amusa) for several
years.
The biggest issue facing
the industry – and one that
has been a concern for some
time – is the shortage of
qualified staff, in Keeling’s
view. Amusa has just run a
one-day course – the first
for some time – and apart
from one other educational
offering, there are few
options, he told FTW.
“It’s an issue that needs
to be addressed with
some urgency to attract
new blood to an industry
where skills are not being
replaced.”
Diminishing rates are
another long-standing
challenge, says Keeling.
“There may have been
some upward trending
in some of the fruit
accounts because some
of the players got caught
with the risks of cold steri
cover, but on the whole
there has been increased
capacity while the size of
the pot has remained the
same.”
CAPTION
Dave Keeling
