Head of Claims - Europe

Stoïk; Netherlands; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Stoïk seeks a European Claims Leader to direct our cyber claims function across Europe, handling the most complex losses from notification to settlement. You will lead a small, multi-country team and work closely with Underwriting, Product Development and CERT to improve risk management and policy wording across all segments.

Based in one of our European offices (Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Munich or Brussels), you will drive strategy, standards and performance, while maintaining hands-on

Qualifications

• At least 5 years managing upper-middle-market and large corporate claims across Europe or internationally.
• Experience interpreting policy wordings, leading settlements and calculating quantum.
• Proven cyber claims experience; other commercial lines a plus.
• Experience mentoring claims professionals and working with loss adjusters and external counsel.
• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks around cyber incidents (GDPR breach, NIS2/DORA).

Responsibilities

• Lead the team of cyber claims handlers across European markets.
• Oversee claims through all stages of adjustment, set quality and speed standards.
• Conduct performance reviews, coaching and training, and shape team strategy and structure.
• Handle a portfolio of large, complex cyber claims and determine coverage positions.
• Lead negotiations with insureds, brokers, co-insurers and reinsurers.
• Manage loss adjusters, forensic experts and external counsel; supervise incident response providers.

Skills

Cyber claims management

Team leadership

Policy wordings analysis

Negotiation skills

Budgeting and reserves

Stakeholder management

Regulatory knowledge (GDPR, NIS2, DORA

Education

Law degree or legal practice

Job description

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 …

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.

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.