Specialty News

Hudson Insurance Group Now Writing Excess Business in New York

Hudson Insurance Group, the U.S. Insurance Division of Odyssey Re Holdings Corp. has received approval from the Excess Line Association of New York to write excess line business in the State of New York through Hudson Excess Insurance Co. Hudson …

Wells Fargo Insurance Launches U.S.-Based International Specialty Group

Wells Fargo Insurance, part of Wells Fargo & Co., is expanding its International Specialty Group by establishing three new teams solely dedicated to serving the insurance and risk management needs of U.S. multinational companies. Based in Atlanta, New York City, …

RSG’s Sapphire Blue, Catlin Agencies Launch Rural, Specialty Hospital Program

Ryan Specialty Group’s (RSG) Sapphire Blue and Lloyd’s Catlin Underwriting Agencies Ltd. have launched a new liability insurance program specifically for U.S. small rural and specialty hospitals. The program features claims management processing and a risk management component provided by …

Atlantic Casualty Names Strickland President, Chief Operating Officer

Bret Strickland has been named president and chief operating officer of Atlantic Casualty Insurance Co., replacing William G. Reynolds, who retired after more than 35 years in the insurance Industry. Strickland started with Atlantic Casualty in 1997 and for the …

Surplus Lines Regulatory Picture for 2013

State implementation of the Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act (NRRA), effective July 21, 2011, proceeded relatively smoothly during 2012, albeit with a few hiccups as industry and regulators navigated the transition to home state taxation and regulation of surplus lines …

Howey Named President of Southwest Risk LP

Robert S. Howey has joined Southwest Risk LP to serve as the Dallas-based wholesale broker’s president, the company announced. Howey’s underwriting experience and expertise encompass 27 years of underwriting and managing property, inland marine and specialty lines primarily with Chubb …

Argo Group Establishes New Sidecar, Harambee Re

Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. has established Harambee Re 2013-1 Ltd for the 2013 accident year. This is the first sidecar established by Argo Group. Unlike other sidecars, which typically write either reinsurance or retrocession business, Harambee Re will support …

Monster Insurance Acquires Renewal Rights for OneBeacon Energy Book

MarketScout, the national electronic insurance exchange and specialty MGA headquartered in Dallas, announced that MarketScout subsidiary, Monster Insurance, has entered into an agreement with OneBeacon Insurance Co. over renewal rights to OneBeacon’s energy book of business. “Monster Insurance will offer …

Program Specialists: Thriving in All Market Conditions

There is a strain of thinking that says generalists can adapt and survive in most environments whereas specialists are more at the mercy of their environment. That may be the case for some species but it’s increasingly not the case …

Berger Named President of Berkley Specialty Underwriting Managers

Kenneth J. Berger has been named president of Berkley Specialty Underwriting Managers LLC. The appointment is effective immediately. Berger succeeds Steven S. Zeitman, who has been appointed chairman and will remain chief executive officer. Berger, who joined Berkley Specialty Underwriting …