BMS Re has appointed Anthony Grippa as its new chief strategy officer, tasking the industry veteran with driving organic growth across three segments that have become increasingly important to reinsurance brokers: programs, mutuals, and specialty lines.
Grippa, who is based in the US, began his role this month. He will work alongside Brad Melvin, CEO of BMS Re, and the US executive committee.
Grippa brings more than two decades of experience in the insurance and reinsurance sectors. He most recently served as a senior advisor at Dowling Hales, an investment bank focused on insurance distribution M&A, a position he held for over seven years.
Prior to his advisory role, Grippa held executive positions at RYZE Claim Solutions, serving as executive chairman from February 2023 to September 2025 and as chief executive officer from March 2020 to February 2023. He also held board and leadership roles at Risk Transfer Insurance Agency and Atlas General Insurance Services.
Earlier in his career, Grippa spent more than 11 years at Brown & Brown Insurance as regional president and senior leader. His background includes public sector experience, having served as chairman of the Leon County Commission and as executive director of the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association.
The appointment signals BMS Re's intent to capitalize on structural shifts in reinsurance distribution. Program business has emerged as a growth engine for the industry. According to the Target Markets Program Administrators Association, the segment continues to outpace non-program commercial insurance in growth.
Mutuals, the regional and policyholder-owned carriers that form another pillar of Grippa's mandate, represent a relationship-driven segment where reinsurance brokers provide access to global capacity that smaller carriers cannot secure independently. These firms often lack the scale to negotiate directly with major reinsurers, creating advisory opportunities for brokers with specialist expertise.
Specialty lines require technical underwriting knowledge that generalist brokers struggle to replicate. Industry research suggests that specialist underwriters and MGAs "remain the go-to option for specialty placements and flexible capacity," pointing to sustained demand for brokers who can navigate complex risk classes.
