Head of Claims - Europe

About Stoïk

Stoïk is a European cyber insurer that combines insurance with prevention. Our policyholders get cover, continuous monitoring and an in-house CERT that responds when an incident happens. We are tech-driven, human at heart, and growing fast across Europe with a challenger spirit.

The role

As European Claims Leader, you will lead our cyber claims function across Europe, for all segments we operate in, up to companies with €1bn in revenue. You will lead a team of claims professionals and handle the most complex losses yourself, from first notification through to settlement.

- Reports to: the VP Insurance, directly
- Works closely with: the Underwriting department, the Product Development team, our CERT and other teams across Stoïk
- Location: based in one of our offices in Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Munich or Brussels
- Current team: 3 claims handlers across 3 countries

Responsibilities

Lead the team

- Manage and develop a team of cyber claims handlers across our European markets.
- Oversee the team's claims through every stage of adjustment, setting standards for quality, speed and consistency.
- Run performance reviews, coaching and training, and shape the team's strategy and structure as we grow.

Handle complex claims

- Handle a personal portfolio of the largest and most complex cyber claims, across all segments.
- Analyse policy wordings and take coverage positions on complex or disputed claims.
- Lead settlement negotiations with insureds, brokers, co-insurers and reinsurers.
- Appoint and manage loss adjusters, forensic experts and external counsel, and challenge their findings.
- Build and manage our panel of incident response providers and external experts, monitoring their quality, speed and cost.
- Calculate and validate quantum, including business interruption, incident response costs and third-party liability.
- Set and review reserves, and approve payments within your authority.

Work across Stoïk

- Work closely with our in-house CERT on incident response and on lessons learned from claims.
- Share claims trends and wording issues with underwriting and product teams to improve our risk selection and policies.
- Report, update and present on claims developments, large losses and portfolio trends to internal and external stakeholders, including senior management, reinsurers and brokers.
- Take part in audits and support broker relationships.
- Present at internal meetings and external events, and support underwriters in broker and client meetings.

Requirements

Experience

- At least 5 years managing upper-middle-market and large corporate claims across Europe or internationally, in-house at an insurer, at a law firm or as a loss adjuster.
- Proven experience interpreting policy wordings, leading settlements, working with loss adjusters and calculating quantum.
- Proven cyber claims experience is required; experience in other commercial lines (D&O, PI, FI, property) is a plus.
- Experience leading or mentoring claims professionals.
- Working knowledge of the regulatory framework around cyber incidents, including GDPR breach notification and NIS2 / DORA requirements for larger clients.

Background and languages

- A legal background (law degree or legal practice).
- Fluent English, plus fluency in at least one other European language, ideally French, Spanish or German. Any additional language is a plus.

How you work

- A team player who builds trust with colleagues, brokers and partners.
- Strong organisational skills, able to run a demanding portfolio and a team at the same time.
- Pragmatic and decisive: you make the right call quickly, and you own it.
- Accountable for your results and your team's.
- A confident presenter, at ease with senior management, brokers and industry audiences.

What we offer

- A senior leadership role shaping cyber claims at one of Europe's fastest-growing cyber insurers.
- Direct access to our in-house CERT and claims data, and the tools to use them.
- A senior, autonomous team that values ownership and clear decisions.
- A competitive salary and benefits package. We share the pay range with candidates before the first interview.
- Full working flexibility with the willingness to meet at the office on a regular basis.
- Regular travel across Europe to meet brokers, insureds, our local teams, and to attend industry events.

How to apply

Send your CV and a short note on why this role interests you to [email or careers page]. We review every application and aim to reply within [two weeks].

Stoïk is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from everyone, whatever their gender, age, origin, disability, sexual orientation or background, and we build our teams on skills and potential.