Cowbell Insurance has appointed Kirsten Maley as Director of Claims for the UK market, signalling the Cyber insurer’s commitment to expanding its presence as British businesses grapple with escalating Cyber threats.
Rising Cyber Threat Landscape Drives Strategic Hiring
The appointment comes at a critical time for UK businesses. Recent Vodafone Business research reveals that Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are suffering annual losses of £3.4 billion due to inadequate Cybersecurity measures. More concerning still, over one-third (35%) of UK businesses experienced a Cyber incident in 2024 alone.
Maley brings over a decade of insurance experience to her new role, including six years specializing in cyber claims. She joins from CFC Underwriting, where she managed complex cyber claims portfolios as Senior Claims Adjuster, handling everything from corporate data breaches to sophisticated class action lawsuits.
What This Means for UK SMEs
In her newly created position, Maley will oversee Cowbell‘s UK claims operations, working directly with regulatory bodies and stakeholders to streamline the claims process. She’ll lead an expanding team of cyber claims specialists focused on helping UK SMEs and mid-market organizations navigate increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
“This is a pivotal hire at a pivotal time,” said Simon Hughes, Senior VP of Global Distribution at Cowbell. “We’re seeing Cyberattacks among UK businesses continue to escalate – in both frequency and severity – while demand within the Cybersecurity sector is also growing in response.”
Market Growth Reflects Urgent Need
The timing aligns with broader market trends showing the UK Cybersecurity sector’s rapid expansion. Government statistics for 2025 indicate the sector has generated £13.2 billion in revenue, representing a 12% increase from the previous year. This growth reflects mounting demand for technology-forward cyber insurance solutions.
Key Takeaways for Business owners
* Cyber losses are accelerating: UK SMEs lose £3.4bn annually to cyber incidents
* Attack frequency is rising: 35% of businesses hit by cyber incidents in 2024
* Insurance response is scaling: Specialist insurers like Cowbell are expanding UK operations
* Market confidence is growing: Cybersecurity sector revenue up 12% to £13.2bn
Maley will report to Mamta Birla, Interim Head of Claims, as Cowbell continues building its UK market presence. Her appointment reflects the growing recognition that effective Cyber claims management requires specialized expertise in an increasingly complex threat environment.
For UK SMEs, this represents another step toward more sophisticated Cyber Insurance support as the digital threat landscape continues to evolve.
