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Welcome to E&S Insurer
Conference & Awards 2024
In March 2023, New York’s iconic Gotham Hall was filled to the rafters for the first ever E&S Insurer conference and awards ceremony. The March event attracted a veritable who’s who of the dynamic E&S marketplace, and was a roaring success!
Over the course of the day we hosted more than 450 attendees representing in excess of 170 companies. Among them were leading E&S carriers, wholesale brokers, reinsurers, rating agencies, investors, and other key players. Our 18 distinguished speakers delivered incisive commentary and lively debate on the state of the market, discussing the drivers behind the sustained hard phase of the E&S pricing cycle that has helped swell the sector to record size.
The day culminated in an evening dedicated to recognising outstanding achievement and innovation in the industry.
Following the success of this inaugural event, we are pleased to announce the return of the premier one-day experience for the E&S sector in 2024. Mark your calendars for 20 March, when Gotham Hall in Midtown Manhattan will once again serve as the backdrop for this prestigious occasion.
The format will largely replicate that of the previous event, featuring an informative half-day conference with keynote addresses, interactive panel discussions and engaging Q&A sessions. The evening will unfold as a reception and dinner-style awards ceremony, providing a perfect setting for networking with senior peers both from the US and overseas. It is an opportunity to celebrate another year of excellence, and attain a deeper understanding of the trajectory of the E&S sector.
Join us in recognising and showcasing the sector’s best, while gaining valuable insights to help inform your decision making and strategy for the year ahead.
Stay tuned for more exciting announcements in the coming weeks!
2023’s event in numbers
About the conference
The Conference will highlight key trends, opportunities and challenges that are shaping the strategy and decision making of market participants, welcoming leading E&S carriers, wholesale brokers, reinsurers, rating agencies, investors, and other key players.
In addition to keynote speeches from leading industry speakers, the event will also include interactive panel discussions and engaging Q&A sessions on the following topics:
- E&S casualty: Hard on the heels of property
- The retail-wholesale complex: Whose patch is it anyway?
- State of the E&S market
Conference timings:
8:00-9:00 | Breakfast
9:00-9:05 | Welcome from E&S Insurer
9:05-9:30 | Keynote: Neil Kessler, CEO, Wholesale Division, CRC Group
9:30-9:55 | Keynote: Russ Johnston, President, P&C Commercial Lines, E&S, Specialty, Nationwide
9:55-10:40 | Panel: E&S casualty: Hard on the heels of property
10:40-11:10 | Coffee break
11:10-11:55 | Panel: The retail-wholesale complex: Whose patch is it anyway?
11:55-12:40 | Panel: State of the E&S market
12:40-13:00 | Keynote: Ben Sloop, COO, Amwins
13:00 | Conference close
Keynote speakers
Russ Johnston
President, P&C Commercial Lines, E&S, Specialty
Nationwide
Neil Kessler
CEO, Wholesale Division
CRC Group
Ben Sloop
COO
Amwins
Panel discussions
Panel | E&S casualty: Hard on the heels of property
The second half of 2023 saw casualty overtake property as the topic de jour at industry conferences.
- Why casualty could be next in line to re-harden after property
- How to underwrite against the forces of inflation, social inflation and litigation finance
- Reinsurance tightening and the ramifications for insurers
- Reserving: 2014-2018 years look bad, but are 2019-2022 without sin?
- Emerging risks from PFAS to social media addiction
- Professional and executive liability – irrational markets?
Mia Finsness
Global Executive Underwriting Officer, Casualty
Markel
Michael Price
CEO
Dellwood Insurance Group
Neil Smallcombe
Head of Casualty
Lexington Insurance Company
Paul Smith
Corporate Senior Vice President
Burns & Wilcox
Shannon Stefanski
Executive Vice President
RT Specialty
Panel | The retail-wholesale complex: Whose patch is it anyway?
Lines between retail and wholesale channels are increasingly blurred amid growing signs that the big three retailers want to get back into the wholesale space in a meaningful way after years of capability building by the next tier. .
- Retail brokers in the wholesale space – threat or opportunity?
- How retail consolidation spawned the wholesale giants
- PE-backed retailers and the second (or third?) wave of consolidation
- Race for the prize: small business and what carriers/wholesalers must do to win
- What retail clients really want from their wholesalers
- Wholesale broker strategies for remaining relevant
Marya Propis
Executive Vice President, Retail Distribution
RT Specialty (Moderator)
Ed Ashby
Chief Commercial Officer
Axis Capital
Bill Gatewood
Personal Insurance Practice Leader, SVP
Burns & Wilcox
Wendy Houser
Chief Wholesale Officer
Markel
Alycia Kiley
Senior Vice President
Amwins Group
Mervin McCormack
Director of National P&C Market Relationships
Alera Group
Panel | State of the E&S market
After another strong year of growth, the E&S market has gone past $100bn of premium volume and with a rehardening of the property and casualty market submission flow is strong. AM Best has gone positive on its outlook for the sector – are there any clouds on the horizon?
- Drivers of growth and how long they will last
- The secular shift in business to the wholesale channel
- Opportunity as admitted markets retrench from cat-prone states
- E&S market hot spots and the P&C pricing cycle
- Vesttoo fallout and the importance of counterparty security/diligence
- Specialty product and the role of the E&S market in innovation
- Evolution of the dedicated E&S Insurer
- The MGA explosion
- Securing the future: talent and technology
Hank Watkins
Regional Director & President, Americas
Lloyd’s (Moderator)
Matt Dolan
President, North America Specialty and Ironshore
Liberty Mutual
Kevin Doyle
CEO
Risk Placement Services
Liz Kramer
President, E&S Lines
Munich Re Specialty Insurance
Janet Pane
Executive Director
ELANY
Christopher Sparro
CEO, North America
Sompo Commercial P&C Insurance
Register
Earlybird rate: $1,095 per person (until 19 January 2024 only – $1,145 thereafter)
Subscriber rate: $995 per person (applicable to subscribers to The Insurer)
3 delegates package: $2,500 in total
(applicable to bookings of three tickets from the same company)
5 delegates package: $4,000 in total
(applicable to bookings of five tickets from the same company)
To secure your subscriber rate, or a group discounted rate, get in touch with Beatrice Boico at: beatrice@wbmediagroup.com
Conference tickets do not provide admission into the evening awards ceremony. If you wish to attend the awards, please get in touch with Spencer Halladey spencer@wbmediagroup.com
or Andy Stone andy@wbmediagroup.com to book a table.
About the awards
Following the morning conference, we’ll reconvene in the evening for a reception and dinner-style awards ceremony, providing a perfect setting for networking with senior peers both from the US and overseas.
This is an opportunity for you to shine and for us to recognise excellence in the market. It’ll also be a great environment for existing relationships to be nurtured and new ones to be formed.
For further details about the categories and how to enter, scroll down below or click here to download the entry brochure.
Awards Timings:
17:30-19:00 | Champagne reception
19:00-21:30 | Three course meal and awards ceremony
21:30-23:00
|
Drinks and networking
Attending the 2024 Awards:
Conference tickets do not provide admission into the evening awards ceremony. If you wish to attend the awards, please get in touch with Spencer Halladey spencer@wbmediagroup.com
or Andy Stone andy@wbmediagroup.com to book a table.
Judges
Dawnmarie Black
Market Development Director - US
Lloyd's
David Bull
North American editor, E&S Insurer
Stan Galanski
President and CEO
G58 Capital LLC
Henry Lombardi
Executive Vice President
NFP Property and Casualty
Bryan Sanders
Chairman
Markel Specialty
Mark Smith
President
XPT Specialty
Categories
E&S CARRIER OF THE YEAR
This category is open to all insurance companies writing E&S business in the US. Successful candidates will be those that can demonstrate their commitment to the sector and the wholesale distribution channel. They will demonstrate the strategic importance of E&S business within their portfolios, specialty expertise, strong underwriting performance relative to peers, and outstanding service and responsiveness to their distribution partners in the past year. They will also be judged on their ability to develop specialty product for their distribution partners.
WHOLESALE BROKING COMPANY OF THE YEAR
This category is open to all intermediaries that are primarily focused on the wholesale distribution channel. Successful candidates will be those able to demonstrate their strong market position and ability to find specialty solutions and capacity for their retail clients. Although criteria under consideration will include financial performance, organic growth and M&A execution strategy, the category will look beyond scale and breadth of offerings to other factors such as industry expertise, product innovation, use of data and analytics and investment in talent.
E&S UNDERWRITER OF THE YEAR
This individual award category is open to underwriting executives of all levels of seniority and aims to recognize industry talent for their contribution to their company and the E&S marketplace. The category will be judged on a range of criteria, including underwriting results (where demonstrable), market influence and reputation, demonstration of expertise as a market leader, service to distribution partners and problem solving. Nominations can include testimonial evidence and other supporting materials.
WHOLESALE PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
This award category is open to wholesale production individuals of all levels of seniority and aims to recognize industry talent for their contribution to their company and the E&S marketplace. The category will be judged on a range of criteria, including financial metrics around growth and performance of book (where demonstrable), ability to deliver solutions to retail clients and market influence with carriers. Nominations can include testimonial evidence and other supporting materials.
UNDERWRITING RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
Talent is key to the future success of E&S carriers, wholesale brokers and the market as a whole. This category is intended to recognize the best up-and-coming talent at E&S carriers that will form the next generation of leaders. Companies operating in the sector may nominate rising stars from within their organization or at counterparties and will be expected to detail the skills and achievements – both in the market and within their companies – of their colleagues to support their submission to this category. To be eligible for nomination, candidates must be 35 or under on the day of the awards.
BROKING RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
This category is intended to recognize the best up-and-coming talent at wholesale brokers that will form the next generation of leaders. Companies operating in the sector may nominate rising stars from within their organization or at counterparties and will be expected to detail the skills and achievements – both in the market and within their companies – of their colleagues to support their submission to this category. To be eligible for nomination, candidates must be 35 or under on the day of the awards.
INNOVATION IN E&S
This category is for carriers, brokers and other market participants to demonstrate how they brought true innovation to the E&S sector in 2023. Innovation could be in the form of technology, product creation, capacity creation, initiatives to attract and develop talent or any other relevant area. Entrants can be nominated by the companies or individuals directly involved, or by third parties. Entrants must be able to articulate why the innovation was needed and the impact hey expect it to have on the market.
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
The judging panel will grant this award to an individual they believe has made an outstanding contribution to the E&S sector in their career. Entries for this category will not be accepted.
Shortlist
E&S CARRIER OF THE YEAR
- Munich Re Specialty Insurance
- Navigators, a brand of The Hartford
- RSUI Group, Inc.
- Skyward Specialty
- Sompo International
- Westfield Specialty Insurance
WHOLESALE BROKING COMPANY OF THE YEAR
- Brown & Riding
- Burns & Wilcox
- CRC Group
- Jencap
- Risk Placement Services
- RT Specialty
E&S UNDERWRITER OF THE YEAR
- Michael Carr, AXIS North America
- Brittany Eaton, Sompo International
- John Horton, AmRisc Group
- Laura Johnson, AXA XL
- Kelly Killimett, Ironshore
- Aaron O’Campo, Markel
- Brendan Walsh, Ethos Specialty Insurance, LLC
WHOLESALE PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
- Bob Black, Amwins
- Brian Davidian, RT Specialty
- Ian Hanson, Burns & Wilcox
- Joe Hayes, Jencap
- Philip Jones, CRC Group
- James Rozzi, Risk Placement Services
UNDERWRITING RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
- Michael Cross, AXA XL
- Jonathan Drake, Emerald Underwriting Managers
- Will Egan, Markel
- Ben Jones, Ironshore
- Stephanie Lawson, Great American Insurance Group
- Ethan Witting, AXIS North America
BROKING RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
- Ariel Bach, CRC Group
- Maddie Beja, Risk Placement Services
- Bryan Drazner, RT Specialty
- Thomas Lynch, Jencap
- Jordan Muckway, Burns & Wilcox
INNOVATION IN E&S
- Arden Insurance Services LLC
- At-Bay
- Counterpart
- FloodFlash
- Insurisk Product Line (CRC Group)
- Oka, The Carbon Insurance Company
- Velocity Risk Underwriters
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
The winner for this category has been chosen by the judging panel and will be announced at the ceremony on 20 March.
LIFETIME ACHIEVER
The winner for this category has been chosen by the judging panel and will be announced at the ceremony on 20 March.
2024 Winners
E&S carrier of the year
RSUI
Wholesale broking company of the year
RT Specialty
E&S underwriter of the year
Michael Carr, AXIS North America
Wholesale producer of the year
Joe Hayes, Jencap
Underwriting rising star of the year
Stephanie Lawson, Great American Insurance Group
Broking rising star of the year
Thomas Lynch, Jencap
Innovation in E&S
Arden Insurance Services
Outstanding contributor of the year
Lou Levinson, Lexington Insurance Company
Lifetime achiever
Joel Cavaness, Risk Placement Services
How to enter
E&S Insurer’s 2024 Awards ceremony is open to anyone who thinks that they, their colleague(s), team, company or client deserve recognition for an outstanding contribution to the E&S sector in the last year.
To submit a nomination, simply choose your category, write your entry and email it to Beatrice Boico on beatrice.boico@wbmediagroup.com, indicating what category you are submitting for and the title of your submission.
Entries can be accepted from the nominee, or you can nominate a candidate. Each entry should be a maximum of 500 words and lay out succinct evidence of achievement or an explanation as to why the achievement is significant.
We encourage nominations to include testimonials from colleagues, clients and other market participants as part of the submission, as well as any materials providing evidence of performance or other factors in support of the entry. We recommend that where possible for company submissions financial metrics are included that help demonstrate relevance and performance in the marketplace.
You can enter as many categories as you wish, where applicable, although only one entry per category per company can be accepted.
Evidence within entries should be for initiatives that took place substantively in 2023 or the first months of 2024.
All the information contained in the entries will be treated as confidential and will not be released without the permission of the entrant/nominee.
Outstanding contributor of the year will be decided independently by the judging panel. Entries for this category will not be accepted.
For any questions about entering the E&S Insurer Awards, please contact Beatrice Boico at beatrice.boico@wbmediagroup.com.
Entries are now closed. The shortlist will be announced on Monday, 4 March - stay tuned!
The Venue
Headline sponsor
Sponsors
For all enquiries regarding the conference and awards ceremony, please contact Beatrice or Isabelle:
For all enquiries regarding sponsorship or to book a table at the Awards ceremony, please contact Spencer or Andy:
