Ascot Brings On Navigators’ Piazza to Head New U.S. Marine Insurance Team

Specialty insurance underwriter Ascot Group has appointed a new U.S. marine insurance team led by Chris Piazza as executive vice president and head of U.S. Marine Insurance.

Piazza will lead all aspects of Ascot’s U.S. marine insurance business. He will be supported by three new hires — Tom Nasso, Dana Piazza and Jim Gehrke — as senior vice presidents of Marine Insurance who will report in to him.

The team will also include existing Ascot marine underwriters Lou Gehrig, senior vice president and Devin Lefebvre, vice president.

The team will provide regional coverage with underwriters in New York, Baltimore and Houston, using Ascot’s admitted U.S. paper.

Piazza has been in the marine insurance industry for 18 years, with the last 15 at The Navigators Group, where he most recently served as the national product line director for Marine Hull and Liability. Prior to The Navigator Group, he was with Water Quality Insurance Syndicate in New York.

Andrew Brooks, Ascot Group CEO said, the launch of this U.S. marine business combined with Ascot’s established Lloyd’s marine teams in London and Houston “will make Ascot Group a true leader in the global marine market.”

Ascot Group Limited is a Bermuda domiciled global specialist in insurance and reinsurance with three divisions: Ascot Underwriting Limited, a managing agent for Syndicate 1414 at Lloyd’s; Ascot Reinsurance Co. Limited, a Bermuda based specialty reinsurer; and Ethos Specialty Insurance Services, a New York based managing general agent. Ascot Group is owned by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.

Topics USA Excess Surplus New York