Liberty Specialty Markets bolsters casualty claims offering with senior appointment

Liberty Specialty Markets (LSM), part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, has announced the appointment of Niala Butt as head of casualty claims, UK, effective immediately. Reporting to Nik Mahida, head of third-party claims, UK & MENA, LSM, Butt will be based in London.

Her appointment marks a strategic move for LSM as it aligns its London claims department with the wider business. Following Carly Marston’s promotion to head of FINPRO claims in February, this appointment sees the second senior female role filled in the LSM claims team in recent months.

In her new role, Butt will lead the casualty claims team, supporting LSM’s goal to deliver greater claims value across the insurance lifecycle.  Amongst her areas of focus will be trend analysis, operational efficiency and stakeholder engagement, which will include sharing her considerable knowledge and expertise working directly with insureds.

Scott Kellers, head of UK & MENA claims said: “Niala brings an extraordinary depth of experience to this new role, and her leadership will be instrumental as we evolve our claims offering. Her industry knowledge and market profile will be a major asset to Liberty and our clients. We are proud to have a diverse claims leadership team, reflecting the diversity of our clients and their specific needs.”

With more than 35 years of industry experience, Butt joins from CNA Hardy, where she served as casualty claims manager for three years. She began her career as a liability/property underwriter before moving into senior roles spanning medical malpractice, claims operations, and international risks. Butt is also highly engaged in industry initiatives, serving on the LMA General Liability Committee, leading the Ethnic Women in Insurance Network, and contributing to several CII committees focused on diversity and innovation.