Business Moves

ISU Network, Great Northern, Davidson Insurance

Great Northern Insurance of Sterling Heights, Mich., and Davidson Insurance Agency of West Plains, Mo., have joined the ISU Network, the San Francisco-based organization announced.

Established in 2010, ISU Great Northern Insurance is owned by Jessica Nofar. ISU Great Northern represents Associated Food & Petroleum Dealers members. Located in Sterling Heights, the 13-employee office specializes in gas stations, hotels and convenience stores.

Owned by Dick Davidson and Richard C. Davidson, and founded in 1970, ISU Insurance Services Davidson Group specializes in both commercial lines and personal lines. It has locations in West Plains, Springfield and Mountain View, Mo.

The ISU Network consists of more than 100 independently owned and operated offices nationwide with more than $1 billion of written premiums.

Holmes Murphy & Associates, Bridge Insurance Partners

Holmes Murphy & Associates, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, has acquired Dallas-based Bridge Insurance Partners LLC.

The team of seven from Bridge Insurance Partners led by Jeff Turner joined the organization and will work out of Holmes Murphy’s Dallas office.

Holmes Murphy’s announcement said that Bridge Insurance Partners’ expertise in property casualty insurance will complement Holmes Murphy’s strength in employee benefits.

Holmes Murphy has offices in Des Moines, Davenport and Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Denver, Colo.; Dallas, Texas; Kansas City, Kan.; Omaha, Neb.; St. Louis, Mo.; Madison, Wis.; Peoria, Ill.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Sioux Falls, S.D.

Sterling James

A team of insurance search executives has formed a new firm, Sterling James, to serve the needs of the global insurance industry.

Co-founders Bruce Halbeck, Erin Hamrick, and Simon Harrison were all senior members of the insurance practices of the two large executive recruiters, Heidrick & Struggles and Spencer Stuart, before launching Sterling James. They bring 53 years of collective experience.

Halbeck co-led the insurance practice at Spencer Stuart, and led the global insurance practice at Heidrick & Struggles. Hamrick previously served with a multiline insurance carrier, an insurance brokerage firm and as a partner at Heidrick & Struggles before joining Spencer Stuart as a senior member. Harrison practiced as a commercial lawyer in London prior to leading the European insurance practice at Heidrick & Struggles.

Sterling James has offices in London, New York and Chicago.

Ryan Specialty, Jubilee Group

Ryan Specialty Group LLC (RSG), based in Chicago, has completed the acquisition of specialist Lloyd’s insurer Jubilee Group Holdings Limited (Jubilee), the company announced.

Jubilee currently operates two active syndicates at Lloyd’s, a managing agency and specialist underwriting distribution and insurance service businesses.

RSG also announced new board and key executive appointments at Jubilee.

Max Taylor, a former chairman of Lloyd’s of London and deputy chairman of Aon UK, accepted the role of non-executive chairman of Jubilee’s board.

Johnny Rowell, managing director of Ryan Specialty Europe Limited, joins the board and serves as chief executive.

Miles Wuller joins the board as chief financial officer.

Jonathan Matthews, previously chief risk officer of Liberty Syndicate Management Limited, joined the board and has been appointed chief operating officer.

Malcolm McCaig, formerly a big four audit partner, has joined the board as an independent non-executive director.

Medical Protective, Princeton Insurance

Berkshire Hathaway’s medical professional liability insurance unit, Medical Protective Co., is purchasing New Jersey-based Princeton Insurance Co., a professional liability insurer for healthcare providers.

Princeton Insurance was previously owned by Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Co., a New York-based professional liability insurance provider. The acquisition, which is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Princeton Insurance employs more than 100 people and serves 13,000 healthcare providers; it has annualized gross written premiums of $140 million and surplus at second quarter-end of $400 million. Its principal operations remain in Princeton.

Medical Protective, which was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in 2005, offers primary medical professional liability coverage and risk solutions for healthcare providers, including physicians, dentists, chiropractors, optometrists, podiatrists, other healthcare professionals, hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Topics London