ABOUT MOMENTUM
Launched in 2025, Momentum Risk Solutions UK Limited is the Appointed Representative of Milestone Risk Solutions Limited authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Member of Chedid Capital, a leading investment group in the (re)insurance industry, Momentum specializes in providing risk solutions across markets in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, with a focus on specialized expertise in segments such as financial institutions and political violence.
OUR MISSION
To capitalize on our customer service, talent, and technical excellence in building enduring partnerships that are rooted in trust, ethics, and integrity.
OUR VISION
Our footprint
Beyond the UK, our international footprint extends to strategic, established, and emerging markets across continents, supported by our globally connected network of partners and suppliers.
OUR LEADERSHIP
Our commitment goes beyond policies and premiums. In an environment defined by shifting risks and regulations, we’re here to stay – and to support our clients with strategic guidance, specialized expertise, and cross-border solutions built for what’s next. Our model is grounded in agile innovation, technical excellence, and long-term partnership.” – Edward Traboulsi, Chief Executive Officer at Momentum Risk Solutions UK
Edward
Traboulsi
Chief Executive Officer
Edward Traboulsi brings extensive executive leadership experience to his role, overseeing MIA’s strategic direction, operational excellence, and business growth initiatives.
Prior to his role at MIA, Edward served as Executive Director at Chedid Capital Holding, spearheading new insurance projects across the Middle East and GCC. Previously, he was the General Manager of Assurex Insurance SAL in Beirut, where he was responsible for the company’s strategic management and operational oversight. His established leadership track record includes executive roles at Zurich Insurance Company Ltd. and Alpina Insurance Company (a Zurich Financial Services Group member), where he served as Managing Partner and COO, leading the company's strategic expansion throughout Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.
Edward's leadership extends beyond corporate roles; he has held various influential board positions, including Board Member at Emirates Insurance Association, Momentum Insurance PIC (Cayman Islands), and The Lebanese Credit Insurer SAL. His career began in the United States at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, advising on comprehensive insurance and financial planning.
Edward holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Finance and International Business) from Saint Louis University in Missouri, USA.
Paul
Howgill
Head of Financial Lines
As Head of Financial Lines at Momentum Risk Solutions UK, Paul brings over three decades of specialist underwriting experience in Financial Institutions and Commercial Professional Indemnity. Paul’s career boasts a solid track record of technical leadership, global market insight, and ability to strategically build and manage portfolios across primary and excess lines. He has led multi-regional portfolios, driven the development of commercial crime benchmarks, and contributed to building high-performing teams – with his global underwriting exposure spanning markets across Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Prior to joining Momentum Risk Solutions UK, Paul held senior roles across leading global (re)insurers and Lloyd’s markets, including as Class Underwriter, Financial Institutions at Talbot (AIG) and Chaucer Syndicate; FI Corporate Accounts Manager, Financial Institutions at AIG; and Senior Vice President – Financial Institutions at Swiss Re/GE Insurance Solutions. His earlier career also focused on specialized professional indemnity roles and expertise at GAN Insurance Company and Sirius Insurance Company.
Paul holds a BSc in Management and Systems from City University and is ACII qualified.
Matthew
Bird
Head of Political Violence
Matthew Bird is a senior specialist in political violence and terrorism insurance, with over two decades of experience in underwriting leadership, portfolio development, and reinsurance strategy across global markets. As Head of Political Violence at Momentum Risk Solutions UK, he leads portfolio development and market engagement across key territories.
Before joining Momentum, Matthew held senior underwriting and leadership remits at Talbot Underwriting, where he was responsible for one of the largest political violence books in the London and global markets. He previously held the role of Global Terrorism Reinsurance Placement Leader at AON, overseeing the strategy and placement of terrorism and political violence programs worldwide. Earlier in his career, he led the Asia Pacific and MENA political violence portfolio at Canopius Asia, where he was tasked with building and scaling a new regional book. Matthew has also worked in Lloyd’s and Singapore markets through positions at QBE, JLT Group, Marsh, and The Miller Insurance Group, developing deep expertise in complex risk underwriting across a broad spectrum of sectors – including marine, energy, aviation, hospitality, and industrial segments – syndicate growth, and client-focused delivery. He also previously served as Chairman of the Lloyd’s Asia Terrorism Panel (2016-2018) and as an elected member of the Lloyd’s Market Association (LMA) Terrorism Panel (2011-2013).
Matthew holds a combined BA in Politics and Sociology from Manchester Metropolitan University.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Farid
Chedid
Director
Starting with the launch of the group in 1998, Farid Chedid embarked on a two-decade journey, building a
leading insurance and reinsurance powerhouse that operates across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Chedid Re, one of its strategic business unit, is recognized among the top 20 reinsurance brokers worldwide and a registered Lloyd’s broker.
Under Farid’s leadership, Chedid Capital Holding today includes Chedid Re, Chedid Insurance Brokers Network, Ascoma and Chedid Corporate Solutions, among others, and counts more than 1,700 employee across 82 subsidiaries.
In 2009, the Group established Seib Insurance in Qatar, dealing with corporate and complex risks. In 2015,
Chedid Capital acquired a major stake in City Brokers, the leading insurance provider in Mauritius and East Africa and Al Manarah Insurance Services in the UAE.
Farid’s growth philosophy has equally focused on investments in industry-wide education and knowledge exchange, among which was the launch of the Corporate Risk Management Institute (CRMI) in 2020.
In 2021, Chedid Capital acquired majority shares in Groupe Ascoma, the first and largest independent brokerage network in sub-Saharan Africa with 29 subsidiaries, head offices in Monaco and international operations offices in Paris. In 2022, the Group continued its digital transformation by acquiring BuyAnyInsurance, a leading aggregator in the UAE, and intends to expand in the territories it operates in.
His contribution to the insurance field has been recognized with many accolades over the years, including “The Middle East and Africa Industry Achiever of the year” by Global Re and Strategic Risk consortium in 2016. In 2017, 2018 and 2019, he was named among the “100 Arab Achievers” by Arabian Business, and among the “35 Most Influential Lebanese Businessmen” by Forbes Middle East in 2018.
Farid sits on the board of several leading MENA companies both within and outside the insurance sector and has been equally involved in philanthropic initiatives and organizations across the region.
Today, he serves as a member of the Board of Trustees at Notre Dame University, Lebanon; a member of Human Rights Watch, Beirut Committee; a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador and a Fellow of the Middle East Leadership Initiative (MELI), member of The Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN).
Farid is also a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute of the UK and holds a master’s degree in Risk Management from the NYU Stern School of Business; a master’s degree in Finance from ESA/ESCP Europe; a master’s degree in Management from Université Paris IX Dauphine; and a postgraduate diploma in Maritime Law from London Metropolitan University.
Mohamad
Akoob
Director
With over 25 years of experience, Mahomed Akoob brings unique insights in general risk and financial management.
Prior to joining Momentum Insurance Agents as (To confirm title), he was the Managing Director of Bahrain-based Hannover Retakaful B.S.C., a position he steered since 2006. Mahomed also served as the Group Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Hannover Reinsurance Group Africa (PTY) (2002-2006), and as the General Manager and Executive Director of Munich Reinsurance Company of Africa Limited (1976-2002).
His technical skills encompass strategy-level influence in areas of insurance and reinsurance underwriting, and Takaful and Retakaful. Mahomed is an Associate of the Insurance Institute of South Africa and a Fellow of the Institute of Risk Managers of South Africa. He also serves as a director on several boards of insurance and other companies, including, currently, Hannover Retakaful B.S.C., Bahrain Institute of Banking & Financing (both in Bahrain), Noor Takaful General and Noor Takaful Family (both in the United Arab Emirates).
Earlier in his journey, Mahomed served the directorships of several reputed (re)insurance companies and institutions across the Middle East and Africa, including South African Reserve Bank Captive Insurance Company Limited; Hannover Reinsurance Group Africa (PTY) Limited; Munich Reinsurance Company of Africa; and Bahrain Insurance Association.
He has held numerous professional appointments and memberships, including stints at the Editorial Board of Cover Magazine, a specialist magazine for the insurance industry, and as a Ministerial-level advisor.
Rana
Hafda
Director
Rana is providing strategic support to the CEO and other executives. She liaise with the CEO to ensure that the organization is operating effectively and efficiently while working towards achieving its strategic goals, coordinate with the Unit Heads, ease communication, and unite people across the organization to keep them moving forward.
Prior to that, Rana was a Risk Assessor at Middle East International Adjusters. Rana holds a Bachelor of Arts from the American University in Beirut.
Stuart
Davies
Director
Stuart Davies was appointed in 2024 as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Milestone Risk Solutions. He brings over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, with a strong background in specialty markets lines, strategic and financial management.
Over the course of his career, Stuart has undertaken several leadership roles, where he spearheaded high-profile strategic transformation, operational restructuring, and business expansion assignments. He has previously served as the Group CEO of global specialty re(insurer) Sompo Canopius (2015-2017), where he led the group’s strategic transformation, and as the CEO of top-performing Lloyd’s syndicate Aegis London (2004-2015). In addition to these roles, Stuart held a number of key board memberships that attest to his wide-ranging expertise in financial and strategic management. He was a partner at Keyhaven Capital Partners (2017-2024), a private equity business where he served as Executive Chairman of insurance and reinsurance group Darag, and Chairman of Elseco MGA. Stuart is currently a Non-Executive Director at the Apollo Group Holdings that manages the Apollo Syndicate at Lloyd’s.
Stuart holds an Executive MBA from INSEAD and a bachelor’s degree in geography from King’s College, London. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
James
Illingworth
Director
James Illingworth was appointed in 2024 as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Milestone Risk Solutions Limited and member of Momentum’s Strategic Committee. James brings over 40 years of experience in the insurance industry. He held several high-profile roles and positions, most notably, as Chief Risk Officer from 2007 to 2017 and Chief Underwriting Officer at MS Amlin Group from 2017 to 2019, overseeing strategic initiatives that significantly scaled the company’s global expansion and growth. During his tenure at MS Amlin Group, James also served as a director of Lloyd’s managing agent Amlin Underwriting Ltd, Swiss reinsurer Amlin AG, and corporate insurer MS Amlin Insurance SE.
Today, James lends his leadership and deep understanding of risk management to several organizations as a board member and advisor. Most notably since 2021, as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Risk Committee at Hiscox Syndicates Ltd.