Cogent Hire, which specialises in credit hire, has appointed experienced insurance and auto executive Luke Le Sauteur to the new role of commercial director.

Luke Le Sauteur, commercial director at Cogent Hire

He joins the Lancashire-based firm, part of insurance and legal services business Handl Group, with a brief to build and launch new propositions for insurance clients, especially in emerging mobility sectors such as EV.

Cogent has been in talks with stakeholders across the entire supply chain, including repairers and fleet operators, to understand the EV challenges they face and develop the right solutions.

Le Sauteur has held senior positions at credit hire businesses Enterprise and Auxilis, and previously founded ChargedRV (CRV) to explore EV mobility solutions in the motor claims arena.

Le Sauteur said: “While some insurers are gripping the EV claims journey, the insurance industry as a whole needs to better manage EV from the point of collision and recovery through to repair and total loss. Managing EV safely is also crucial, as this will give underwriters more confidence when they price these types of risk.

“At present the industry has more work to do to get it right for a fast-growing population of EV drivers, and under the Consumer Duty regulation EV drivers should receive an appropriate claims service if they’ve been involved in an accident.”Kirsty McKno, Cogent Hire CEO, said: “Luke has some great ideas about how to succeed in this emerging marketplace, and we are looking forward to supporting our insurer clients, both existing and potential partners, as they get to grips with making EV insurance work across the whole of the claims value chain.”