Southern Marine appoints Sharron West as head of claims

Southern Marine, a program administrator within a program administrator within CRC Group’s Starwind Specialty, has appointed Sharron West (pictured) as head of claims. According to the company this strategic move marks a major milestone in Southern Marine’s evolution, reflecting its commitment to operational excellence and enhanced service delivery.

West will be based in Houston and report directly to Jenks. She brings over 45 years of marine cargo claims experience across both the London and US markets.

Her career includes roles as a Lloyd’s broker, cargo claims adjuster at the Lloyd’s Claims Office, and, most recently, principal adjuster for Marine Insurance. She is a chartered insurance practitioner, an Associateship holder with the Chartered Insurance Institute, and a former president of the Houston Claims Association. 

“Welcoming Sharron to lead our claims function is more than an operational change; it reflects our commitment to service and accountability,” said Graham Jenks, president of JH Blades Group. “Her leadership, track record, and technical depth will help us deliver a best-in-class claims experience.”

Launching an in-house claims management team represents a strategic shift from Southern Marine’s previous reliance on a third-party administrator, the company said, adding that this move enables greater ownership of the claims process, stronger integration with underwriting, and enhanced responsiveness for brokers, clients, and carrier partners and that with real-time access to claims data, Southern Marine will be better positioned to inform underwriting decisions, identify adverse trends early, and streamline workflows through a dedicated claims system.

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