NFP’s North American Construction and Infrastructure Group Names Two New Leaders

Property and casualty broker, benefits consultant, wealth manager and retirement advisor NFP has appointed David Bowcott and Adrian Pellen to co-lead its cross-border North America Construction and Infrastructure Group.

Together, they will lead NFP’s efforts to provide clients with comprehensive construction and surety services tailored for complex national and cross-border projects, reporting to Henry Lombardi, executive vice president of property and casualty at NFP.

David Bowcott, managing director and co-leader, North America Construction & Infrastructure Group, NFP

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, said Doug Hammond, NFP’s chairman and CEO, will lead to “a massive amount of spending on construction projects across the country over the next decade and beyond. … Appointing these two industry leaders and establishing an integrated NFP North America Construction and Infrastructure business strengthens our position in the marketplace and ability to help clients navigate complexities and protect their assets.”

Bowcott, based in Toronto, joins NFP from Aon, where he worked to enable clients and partners to achieve optimal risk profiles as part of the firm’s Global Construction Group. He also currently serves as a board member for the Canadian Construction Association and The Institute of Asset Management.

Adrian Pellen, managing director and co-leader, North American Construction & Infrastructure Group, NFP

Prior to joining NFP, Chicago-based Pellen was managing director at Marsh, where he served as a senior liaison to clients, leading infrastructure for Marsh’s Construction Practice in the U.S. and Canada, and oversaw project risk, account management and claims for the U.S. Construction business. He is also a U.S. Branch Council member for IPFA, the global professional association for the infrastructure and energy financing industry.

“We’re very excited to welcome David and Adrian to NFP,” Lombardi said.

Ryan Specialty Makes Two Key Appointments to Its Underwriting Managers Specialty Team

Ryan Specialty — a specialty underwriting business comprising specialty underwriters of energy, health care, enterprise risk, construction and more — has announced two significant promotions within the underwriting managers specialty.

Assuming the role of chief wholesale distribution officer is Tom Curran. An industry veteran with more than 25 years’ experience, Curran most recently served as chief marketing officer for WKFC Underwriting Managers and two of its subsidiaries, CorRisk Solutions and AgRisk Underwriters, which are Ryan Specialty managing general underwriters. Curran has been with WKFC since 2005, filling a range of roles in sales, marketing and distribution within the wholesale space.

Tom Curran, chief wholesale distribution officer, Ryan Specialty

James Shaffer has assumed the role of chief retail distribution officer. Shaffer was previously the executive vice president of sales and marketing for Suitelife Underwriting Managers, a position he held for the past three years. Before Suitelife was acquired by Ryan Specialty in 2013, Shaffer served as the former’s executive vice president, the culmination of 20 years in Suitelife’s program development, program operations, sales and marketing departments in service of the national retail network.

“We are excited to recognize these two exceptional colleagues, both of whom bring substantial expertise and connectivity to their respective sales channels,” said Miles Wuller, president & CEO, Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers.

“These two new roles are part of our ongoing commitment to deliver additive shared resources to our managing general underwriters and programs [and] hone our delivery to the distinct needs of industry distribution channels.”

USQRisk Appoints Lael Chappell to Head Specialty Accelerator Platform Desq

Alternative risk transfer specialist USQRisk has named Lael Chappell chief marketing and business development officer of Desq, a specialty accelerator platform launched last year.

Chappell has extensive experience underwriting, leveraging strategic partnerships, promoting change and advancing a tech-forward mindset, all of which he brings to his new role furthering Desq’s goal of helping entrepreneurial underwriters manage their own MGAs through the use of tailored Insurtech solutions.

Lael Chappell, chief marketing and business development officer, Desq

“I am excited to join Desq early in its growth,” Chappell said. “Insurtech is at a very interesting crossroads, and I hope … we can continue to expand program business into niche markets and make a large-scale, global impact.”

Chappell previously served as director of insurance distribution at Attune Insurance (acquired by Coalition Inc. in 2021), and has been identified by several insurance industry publications as one to watch. He also currently serves as a mentor to the Global Insurance Accelerator and the Insurtech NY Digital Labs.

“Lael is the perfect addition to the Desq team,” said Anibal Moreno, group CEO of USQRisk. “His comprehensive understanding of insurance, underwriting expertise, deep ties to venture capital and entrepreneurial approach to advancing Insurtech will play an important role in not only Desq and USQRisk but the industry as a whole.”

Falcon Makes Four Senior Appointments

Falcon Risk Holdings LLC has announced four senior appointments.

The U.S. financial, professional and cyber lines MGA has named Bryan Harmsen its new chief operating officer. Harmsen joins from Munich Re, where he served as head of data operations and process improvement; this followed a decade occupying several senior operational roles in the insurance industry and, before that, nine years leading IBM’s global delivery framework for IT service.

“[Harmsen] has a proven track record of providing best-in-class solutions and executing them quickly and skillfully,” said Falcon CEO Craig Landi. “Having Bryan on board will help us to continue delivering on our strategy to provide a new alternative for financial, professional and cyber risks.”

Within Falcon’s management liability team, Andrew Menger was named head of public company management liability, while Danielle Cirillo was named head of private company management liability.

Menger brings over 25 years of experience in commercial management liability, including his years as vice president of executive lines at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance.

Cirillo brings over 12 years industry experience, most recently as regional leader for private company and not-for-profit management liability at Chubb.

Finally, Tim Barry has assumed the role of head of financial institutions. Barry previously led the asset management team at Everest; this followed five years as an equity trader.

David Lynders, Falcon’s executive vice president of management liability, said, “I’m thrilled to have Andrew, Danielle and Tim on the leadership team. Their technical expertise, deep relationships and commitment to service will enable Falcon to deliver a broader set of risk transfer solutions to brokers and clients.”

Joe Vaccaro Named Partner at KPMG’s Tax Practice

On October 11, Joe Vaccaro joined KPMG as a partner in the New York financial services banking and insurance tax practice.

Vaccaro brings over 20 years’ experience, with a focus on tax law. He joins KPMG from MetLife, where he acted as senior vice president and global tax director.

Prior to his time at MetLife, Vaccaro also held senior tax leadership roles at American Life Insurance and American International Group, serving as senior vice president / global tax director and senior tax counsel, respectively.

In his role as partner, Vaccaro will carry out leadership and market-facing functions as KPMG’s insurance tax practice evolves to meet client needs and respond to changing growth opportunities.

New Chief Risk Officer Announced at ATI Restoration

Disaster recovery firm ATI Restoration has announced the appointment of Marco Flores to the role of chief risk officer, reporting to president and chief growth officer Ryan Moore.

Flores will be responsible for leading and enhancing ATI’s risk management program and insurance procedures and managing operational risks. His appointment comes as the restoration, environmental remediation and reconstruction services provider is undergoing rapid expansion.

Flores brings over 30 years’ experience in risk management, insurance, claims and business continuity to his new position — most recently as senior vice president of risk management at Revantage Corporate Services, a Blackstone Portfolio company.

Flores began his career at Liberty Mutual Group before going on to occupy numerous leadership roles at such firms as Equity Office Properties, Jones Lang LaSalle and Kraft Foods.

“The ability to identify and anticipate risks is critical for the long-term growth of our company,” Moore said. “Marco’s significant expertise and foresight will allow us to grow strategically in alignment with our current vision for expansion.”

“I look forward to working with Ryan and the team,” Flores said. “The company’s values, ATI CARES, are at the heart of its operations, driving its personalized customer focus, [and are] the secret to its ongoing success.”

Brad Sutliffe Joins IOA’s Employee Benefits Team

Insurance Office of America (IOA) has added insurance industry veteran Brad Sutliffe to its growing employee benefits team.

Brad Sutliffe, employee benefits consultant, Insurance Office of America

Bringing nearly 20 years of experience to his role as an employee benefits consultant, Sutliffe will focus primarily on businesses of 50 to 500 employees in the mid-Atlantic region, including Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

“Brad brings to our team a passion for people, expertise in risk management and a keen understanding of data,” said Chris Labrecque, president of IOA’s employee benefits group. “It’s a unique combination. We’re thrilled to have him on board, and I look forward to seeing all that Brad will accomplish in the weeks and years ahead.”

“I truly believe that IOA is a first-class organization that is driven not only to care for the wants and needs of its clients but also to support and respect employees and their families,” said Sutliffe. “The balance of these two important parts of the equation meet my personal and vocational goals very well.” &