NorthStandard CCO Savraj Mehta to retire

NorthStandard Chief Commercial Officer Savraj Mehta will retire at the end of 2026 after a career spanning more than three decades in protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance, having played a key role in the Club’s underwriting development, business expansion and member relationships.

Savraj Mehta, Chief Commercial Officer of NorthStandard, is set to retire at the end of 2026 after more than 30 years with the organisation and its predecessor, Newcastle P&I. He joined Newcastle P&I in 1995 following a career at sea and subsequent experience in ship operations.

Mehta spent 12 years as a seafarer, progressing to the rank of Master with Dempo Steamships. He later moved ashore, working as a Marine Superintendent and Operations Manager before entering the P&I insurance sector.

Reflecting on his career, Mehta said: “It’s been a brilliant innings. From sailing and being in command to 31 years in P&I, I have never looked back.”

He described his transition into insurance as his “third apprenticeship”, following his training as a seafarer and his experience in ship management. His exposure to P&I-related challenges during his time at sea and working with shipowners ashore influenced his decision to pursue a career in marine insurance.

When he joined Newcastle P&I, the Club had less than 10 million gross tonnes (GT) entered. Its subsequent expansion took it through 25 million GT and 50 million GT before crossing the 100 million GT threshold. Following its merger with North P&I and the subsequent combination with The Standard Club in 2023, NorthStandard now covers close to 275 million GT of shipping.

From seafaring to P&I underwriting leadership

Mehta said his initial objective was to develop the Club’s presence across Asia and the Middle East, at a time when relatively few former seafarers were entering the P&I industry.

He also sought to bring more maritime professionals into the organisation and strengthen industry knowledge through teaching, mentoring and developing underwriting talent.

Paul Jennings, Co-Managing Director of NorthStandard, said Mehta had contributed to the organisation’s development through his international shipping relationships and internal mentoring.

“Savraj’s contribution to the success of North and now NorthStandard has been immense, both externally with his wide reach of international shipping relationships, and also internally with his support and mentorship throughout the club. He has been a key factor in the growth and development since he joined what was at the time a very small P&I community in Newcastle back in 1995.”

Member relationships and underwriting approach

Mehta attributes much of his approach to underwriting to understanding shipowners’ operational challenges and identifying practical solutions rather than relying solely on regulatory provisions.

He summarised his philosophy as: “Keep it simple, be a good listener, don’t start quoting rules, but find solutions.”

He said underwriters should consider not only the shipowner’s position but also the obligations involving charterers, receivers and suppliers when addressing operational problems.

Mehta also highlighted recruitment, professional development and mentoring as important elements of the Club’s growth strategy. He said his approach to identifying talent focused on attitude alongside professional qualifications.

NorthStandard introduced more formalised management training programmes in 2009. Feedback from participants subsequently identified mentoring as an important component of professional development.

Jennings said: “Savraj understands that service industry relationships are built and maintained on continuous effort and a desire to improve; that to be the best we have to keep working harder with more commitment as success is not guaranteed.”

Mehta also cautioned against assuming that the Club’s current scale reduces the importance of future growth. Drawing on his experience of competitors that had lost their market positions over time, he said: “We cannot and will not let that happen. Without growth, a business may be on the way to its demise.”

However, he said expansion was not the sole objective behind the 2023 merger of North P&I and The Standard Club. The combination was intended to respond to market requirements while retaining the service cultures of both organisations.

Technology and changing demands on P&I professionals

The P&I sector has undergone substantial changes during Mehta’s career, particularly in communications technology, regulatory requirements and the complexity of shipping operations.

Jennings noted the transition from telex and facsimile communications to email, social media channels and artificial intelligence as major developments affecting the industry.

However, he said technological progress had not reduced the importance of personal relationships and member service.

“Any professional in business has to embrace technological change, but personal relationships and attention are an enduring quality that have been a key ingredient in our success. P&I clubs belong to their members and long-term relationships are built to solve the increasingly complex and converging challenges that shipping faces. As ever, today’s P&I professional needs to be dedicated, expert in their field, personable and have a commitment to shipping and mutuality.”

Mehta said the fundamentals of underwriting remained largely unchanged despite evolving regulations, geopolitical developments and technological advances.

He emphasised that underwriting assessments should consider a vessel’s operational performance, claims frequency and crew retention rather than relying exclusively on historical loss ratios.

“So, don’t look at the loss ratio in isolation over the last five years: look also at the frequency of claims, crew retention, and how the ship operation is managed.”

He also encouraged young underwriting professionals to develop their listening and negotiation skills, describing patience and preparation as important attributes.

“My general rule is 95% listening, and 5% talking.”

Industry recognition and contributions to maritime development

Mehta’s contribution to the maritime and marine insurance sectors has also received recognition in India. In 2019, he received the Eminent Overseas Maritime Personality Award from India’s National Maritime Day Celebrations Committee.

Presented under the theme ‘Indian Ocean – An Ocean Of Opportunity’, the award recognised his work in loss prevention policies and support for seafarers. The recognition also marked his progression from seafaring to becoming the first Indian to join the board of a P&I Club.

During his career, Mehta’s responsibilities expanded beyond underwriting to include dispute resolution for members, business development and member retention.

Jennings said the organisation would distribute Mehta’s responsibilities among several people to maintain continuity in member relationships and service delivery.

“Savraj has no direct replacement – perhaps we need more than one person!” he said.

Jeremy Grose also commented on Mehta’s departure, saying: “For years we had to cope with Savraj as a highly effective commercial competitor so it has been a great relief, as well as a pleasure and privilege, to work with him inside our larger tent as it were over the past few years”.

Mehta plans to remain connected with the maritime sector

Following his retirement, Mehta intends to explore opportunities to contribute to the maritime industry, potentially through nautical colleges and seafarer development initiatives.

He said he planned to spend the first six months after leaving NorthStandard considering how he could continue supporting the industry.

“I’ve loved my job but I’m leaving it behind. One thing for sure is that I will not sit at home and do nothing.”

He also plans to spend more time with his grandchildren, sharing experiences from his maritime career and lessons about perseverance.

Reflecting on the next phase of his life, Mehta said: “Retirement is not the end of the chapter; it’s a new beginning.”