Carolines Story – Elite Women of 2025
Published On : 14 Mar 2025
Insurance as an industry offers many pathways to career success and leadership. There is no ‘must follow’ route or qualification pre-requisite. It all comes down to aptitude, attitude and ambition – and inspirational stories are found right across Pen Underwriting.
Caroline King, our Trading & Operations Director for SME & Personal Lines, is a case in point. Named last week as one of Insurance Business UK’s ‘Elite Women’ of 2025, Caroline’s story began as a 16-year-old school leaver. It epitomises that of the successful self-starter. There was no kick-starter of a degree, formal apprenticeship or fast-track graduate programme. Instead, Caroline’s is a career built on hunger to learn, natural aptitude for responsibility-taking and determination to find solutions to every challenge.
She also has a steely resolve to empower and develop those that come behind her. As Caroline herself says: “Ten years ago, when asked about my biggest achievement, it would have been something I accomplished for myself. Now, the stand-out moments all centre on securing the promotion and advancement of others.”
From her earliest days at high-street broking franchise Swinton and rising responsibility within commercial lines brokers Williamson Moore and Oval, Caroline has built a 20-year trading specialism in Property Owners’ insurance culminating in full P&L responsibility, while also managing the division’s underwriting services team which encompasses Pen’s Home business too.
Put simply, Andrew Booth, MD of our SME & Personal Lines division, says: “Caroline is brilliant. An inspirational leader, who sees issues clearly, deals with them effectively and doesn’t shy away from difficult decisions. When change is needed, she sees the big picture, motivates those around her and takes the team with her on the journey. “Caroline’s passion for mentoring, gift for nurturing talent and leadership of the mental health I&D workstream over recent years serve as a great complement to her astute commercial acumen and P&L achievements for Pen. Caroline is undoubtedly a woman of influence, fully deserving of the ‘Elite Women’ membership.”
Congratulations on your recognition Caroline and thanks for being such a committed part of Pen since we launched in 2015!
