Who we are


Who we are

01About Chaucer

The roots of the Chaucer Group were established in 1922 when the agency Stewart and Hughman Ltd was formed to manage Lloyd’s syndicates. A series of realignments and acquisitions towards the end of the twentieth century saw Stewart & Hughman renamed Chaucer Syndicates.

Growth and consolidation continued in the early part of this century with a widening international presence, culminating in 2018 when we joined the China Re Group.

Through Lloyd’s Syndicate 1084, Syndicate 1176 for nuclear risks, and Chaucer Insurance Company for company markets, we offer brokers and clients an exceptional range of risk classes and cross-class cover flexibility. Our strong underwriting and claims expertise is consistently recognised by brokers and clients.

Headquartered in London, with international hubs in Copenhagen, Dubai, Miami, Dublin, Singapore, Sydney and Bermuda, we employ more than 500 people worldwide, including more than 120 specialist underwriters.

02A century of growth and success

1922

Stewart & Hughman founded as a Lloyd’s managing agency.

1993

Stewart & Hughman buys marine Syndicate 1084 and UK motor Syndicate 587.

1994

Stewart & Hughman renamed Stewart Syndicates and buys non-marine Syndicate 1096.

1996

Stewart Syndicates renamed Chaucer Syndicates.

1997

Management buyout of Chaucer Syndicates completed.

1998

Chaucer Syndicates quoted on London Stock Exchange following merger with Aberdeen Lloyd’s Insurance Trust.

1999

Chaucer acquires Danish reinsurance operation, Chaucer Underwriting A/S.

2002

Chaucer assumes the management of Nuclear Syndicate 1176.

2004

Syndicates 587 and 1096 merge into Syndicate 1084.

2007

Chaucer rebrands and relocates to 30 Fenchurch Street.

Chaucer Singapore opens.

2011

Chaucer joins The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.

2013

The Chaucer Foundation established.

2015

Chaucer Miami opens.

2016

ForwarderLink, an online system for cargo insurance cover for the freight industry launches.

Specialty partnership in Africa with AXA ASR launches.

Chaucer launches the Risk & Research Centre, in partnership with the University of Western Ontario and the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction in Canada.

2017

Chaucer Dublin opens.

Chaucer acquires SLE Worldwide Australia. 

Chaucer Dubai opens.

Chaucer establishes Thopas Re, a new reinsurance sidecar.

2018

China Re completes the acquisition of Chaucer from The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. 

2019

Chaucer becomes the managing agent for China Re's Syndicate 2088. 

2020

Chaucer's Insurance Company in Ireland increases its capital to $100m to support ambitious growth plans.

Chaucer Bermuda opens.

2021

Chaucer rebrands and moves its London HQ to 52 Lime Street.

2022

Chaucer celebrates its centenary.