Freedom Specialty Hires Cyber Liability Products Director

New York-based Freedom Specialty Insurance Co. appointed John Merchant as director of network security, data privacy and technology risk. In his role, Merchant will manage the development, underwriting and risk management of cyber liability products. He reports to Teresa Black, vice president of commercial directors and officers liability.

Merchant has more than six years of experience in network security and data privacy liability, technology liability and management liability underwriting. He also has more than a decade’s experience in sales and marketing in consumer products and technology industries.

Before joining Freedom Specialty, he worked at Hartford Financial Products as assistant vice president for cyber and E&O lines. His department was responsible for underwriting, sales and production for all cyber and E&O products. He is a frequent speaker at security and privacy risk industry panels.

Freedom Specialty Insurance Co. is a unit of Scottsdale Insurance Co., based in Scottsdale, Ariz.