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AmTrust partners with Blackstone
AmTrust Financial Services and Blackstone Credit & Insurance (BXCI) entered into a partnership. AmTrust and BXCI will spin-off seven AmTrust subsidiaries into a new company. AmTrust will remain underwriter of the existing books of business offered through the MGAs for ten years. Adam Karkowsky, the current president of AmTrust, will leave to become chairman and CEO of the new company.
AXA XL announces new global chief underwriting officer, casualty
AXA XL appointed Donnacha Smyth as global chief underwriting officer, casualty. Smyth currently serves as head of casualty.
Prudential announces new business technology officer, group insurance
Prudential Financial announced Scott Roth as business technology officer, group insurance. Roth joins the company from Lincoln Financial Group where he was senior vice president and divisional CIO for the workplace solutions division at Lincoln.
Big 'I' installs new chair
The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big I) has installed Angela Ripley, owner and president of VW Brown Insurance Service, as the chair for the next year.
"Angela has demonstrated her dedication to the independent agency channel and Big 'I' members through decades of outstanding service to the association and the industry as a whole," said Charles Symington, Big "I" president & CEO, in a statement. "We're grateful for her skilled leadership and experience as the Big 'I' continues to provide the tools and support members need for long-term success."
Greg Sandrock, owner of The Cornerstone Agency, was sworn in as Big "I" chairman-elect. Bryan Clinkscales, owner of Boone Ritter Insurance, was sworn in as Big "I" vice chair. Todd Jackson, owner and partner at McGowan Insurance Group, will remain on the Big "I" executive committee for an additional year as immediate past chair.
Origami Risk named among 2025 best places to work
Origami Risk is among over 50 companies honored in Crain's Chicago Business' 2025 Best Places to Work.
Crain's partnered with Workforce Research Group, an independent firm that manages employee engagement surveys, to conduct the research and provide a ranked list.
"At Origami, we believe that strong client partnerships begin with a strong team," said Nikki Facchini, Chief People Officer at Origami Risk. "We've fostered a culture where collaboration, support, and shared accountability help our people thrive. That foundation allows us to earn our clients' trust and deliver with consistency. As we continue to grow, we remain focused on understanding our clients' evolving challenges and equipping them with solutions that build resilience for what's ahead."
Applied Systems acquires Cytora
Applied Systems acquired Cytora. Insurance Advisory Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to Cytora during the transaction.
"Cytora has focused on helping build a bigger, more impactful global insurance industry, enabling commercial insurers to accelerate the transition to digital risk flows so they can absorb higher volumes of risk, measurably increase written premium while reducing expenses and time to quote," said Richard Hartley, CEO and co-founder, Cytora. "Our vision directly aligns with Applied's vision to connect and automate the Digital Roundtrip of Insurance, and we are excited to join Applied to significantly expand the value of insurance AI at each stage of the risk lifecycle, bringing the industry closer together and enabling more profitable growth for all stakeholders."
New England agent network picks ReSourcePro, INSTANDA tech
New England Indemnity Company (NEIC), a New Hampshire-based network of independent insurance agents, has rolled out an update of its personal lines products using ReSource Pro and INSTANDA technology.
ReSource Pro, a process and technology services company, and INSTANDA, a no-code platform, partnered in January. NEIC is their first joint deployment with a client.
"For us, this isn't just about standing up new tech. It's about launching the right products, in the right way, with the right support behind the scenes," said John Elias, President and CEO of NEIC, in a press release. "ReSource Pro and INSTANDA have worked with our team to ensure that we're meeting aggressive timelines while building with a focus on long-term scalability and operational efficiency."
Roosevelt Road taps Neural Earth AI for property underwriting risk
Managing general underwriter firm Roosevelt Road Specialty has partnered AI geospatial risk analytics company Neural Earth to improve its property underwriting capabilities.
Roosevelt Road Specialty plans to transform its operations by using Neural Earth's risk intelligence platform to evaluate complex property risks, refine portfolio strategies, and serve clients.
"By integrating Neural Earth's AI-driven geospatial analytics into our underwriting and risk management processes, we will deliver more precise, responsive solutions for our clients and enhance our protection of their property portfolios," said Daniel Hickey Jr., CEO of Roosevelt Road Specialty, in a press release.
