Several firms have announced key executive appointments and team expansions within the US insurance industry.
CRC Group, a major independent wholesale specialty insurance distributor in North America, has added three experienced professionals to its CRC Specialty division.
Rita Carr (pictured above, left) joins the Indianapolis office as senior underwriting team leader, bringing over 30 years of expertise. Glenn Willis (pictured above, center) has been named underwriting team leader in Dallas, drawing on more than 17 years of experience including brokerage roles focused on tailored solutions across diverse lines. Meanwhile, Nick Sans also joins the Dallas team as property and inline marine broker, with 18 years in specialty insurance including leadership positions at specialty insurers.
Preferred Employers Insurance, a Berkley company, has appointed Peter Hong (pictured above, right) as assistant vice president of programs and distribution operations.
Hong’s experience includes managing broker territories and distribution teams across personal lines, small commercial and national accounts. He will oversee Preferred’s distribution strategy to drive growth in California’s workers’ compensation market.
The company said it aims to expand its footprint while maintaining service quality for injured employees.
Arden Insurance Services, a tech-enabled managing general agency, has named Tim Henry (pictured immediately above, left) as chief operating officer and Brian Sheekey (pictured immediately above, center) as chief financial officer.
Henry’s background includes senior roles in product management and operational strategy at Farmers Insurance and Teradata, alongside consulting experience at Bain & Company. Meanwhile, Sheekey brings over 30 years of financial leadership from his tenure as CFO at GeoVera Insurance Group and Tower Hill Group, with expertise in capital management and reinsurance structuring.
McGowan Financial Lines has announced the addition of Dan Lazarz (pictured immediately above, right) as director and team leader.
Lazarz brings a broad background in directors & officers, errors & omissions, employment practices liability, cyber and data privacy, and other specialty lines. He previously held senior positions at CRC Group, Swett & Crawford and Lockton.
McGowan CEO Thomas B. McGowan IV described Lazarz’s hire as a key step in the company’s strategy to grow its professional liability and management liability brokerage services in the US.
Newline Group has appointed John Driscoll as deputy chief underwriting officer, a newly created role focused on driving underwriting performance globally.
Driscoll, who has led Newline’s Financial Institutions team for over a decade, will collaborate closely with the chief underwriting officer.
Additionally, Caroline Smith has been promoted to head of financial institutions, overseeing underwriting in this key market segment. Smith brings more than 20 years of experience in financial institutions underwriting.
