Management
Camargue Underwriting Managers is run by Mitch Marescia and Peter Downham.
Mitch Marescia, (FCIS)
Managing Director
Camargue co-founder Mitch Marescia has many years worth of experience within the insurance industry. Prior to starting Camargue, Marescia enjoyed first-hand the challenges of managing his own business, MGM Corporate Solutions, but this time without a partner. Through Marescia and his role as a management consultant the company offered services including, project management; company secretarial services; financial risk surveys; management consulting on business processes and development of group insurance programmes.
Marescia’s working experience preceding the launch of MGM and Camargue was grounded at AIG where his initial position held was that of financial controller and company secretary. His list of responsibilities soon grew and it was not long before Marescia was promoted to vice president operations and company secretary.
The knowledge that he gleaned during this period has brought valuable qualities to the current Camargue partnership.
Marescia is responsible for the financial management of Camargue, dealing with all operational aspects and providing a key leadership role. He is heavily involved in new product and market development, as well as marketing existing products.
Included in Marescia’s portfolio of responsibilities is performing Financial Risk Surveys for prospective clients and assisting with underwriting. He is also responsible for seeking and developing new partnerships.
Peter Downham, (FCII, FIISA and Chartered Insurer)
Director of Operations
Peter Downham has been associated with Camargue since the group's inception and joined the ranks of formal employ as Underwriting Manager in July 2004. Over the past two-and-a-half years and under his careful watch, the Pension Fund Trustee portfolio has grown in excess of 450 percent. In addition, Downham has taken responsibility for Policy Wordings and Internal compliance to Reinsurance Treaty's and FSB Regulations, successfully keeping the underwriting insurance firm on the straight and narrow during the past and ensuing period of exponential growth.
Having worked in the insurance industry for the past 37-years in both the UK and South Africa, 27 of which have been completed in a management capacity, it is little wonder that Camargue has come to rely heavily on his sound counsel in all strategic matters.
Downham brings to his new role numerous qualifications, the most significant being that of FCII (UK), FIISA & Chartered Insurance Practitioner. He has served on the Main & Education Committees of the Insurance Institute of Gauteng for a great number of years. His duties will encompass that of Executive Director responsible for policy administration, compliance, the branch network, general office administration and all line management, as well as staff reporting.
