John R Charman (born 1953) is an English businessman, who has made his career in insurance. He is currently CEO and chairman at Bermuda based Endurance Specialty Insurance Ltd, which has been bought by Sompo Holding (Japan ) in March 2017. He is currently the Executive Chairman of the Sompo Board of Directors.[1]
Nicknamed "King of the London Insurance Market", Charman was described as "famously strong-willed and opinionated" by the Financial Times.[2] Charman is ranked in the top 100 people in the global finance industry;[3] inside the top ten richest people in the City of London; and 321st overall in the 2004 Sunday Times Rich List.[4]
In August 2006 in what is believed to be the largest sum awarded to an English wife in a contested case, Charman was ordered to pay his ex-wife by the High Court of Justice a sum of £48 million.[5] It beat the £30 million awarded to WPP Group chief executive Martin Sorrell's ex-wife in 2005 after their 32-year marriage ended in divorce.[6]