Amwins attracts Beat’s Beckham to lead specialist MGA APU
Global specialty insurance wholesale broker Amwins has hired an industry veteran following the retirement of its long-time president.
Jon Beckham will lead Amwins Program Underwriters (APU), an MGA specialising in affinity programme management. Beckham will succeed Ben Francavilla who has served as president of APU since 2009 and recently announced his retirement scheduled for later this year.
In his new role, Beckham will manage the day-to-day operations of APU and oversee the growth and development of 35 insurance programmes covering various niche industries. APU has nine locations across the US with more than 175 dedicated professionals and $550 million in annual premium.
Beckham has more than 25 years of experience in the US and internationally, most recently serving as president of Beat Capital partners. Previously, he led DUAL North America as chief executive officer and director, focusing on origination and managing specialty programs. Throughout his career, he has held management positions at national and international managing general agencies where his responsibilities included program/product development, business development, operations and capacity management.
Francavilla joined Amwins in 1999, with his company being one of the founding entities. Under his leadership, APU has nearly doubled its number of specialty programmes and grown annual premium by more than 400%.
Beckham said, “I am honoured and excited to join the talented team at APU and look forward to working collaboratively with Ben during this leadership transition as we embark on a new chapter together, driving toward continued success in helping our clients win."
Ryan Armijo, president of Amwins underwriting, said: “Ben has been foundational to the growth of our underwriting capabilities and the formalisation of Amwins’ Underwriting division.”
He added: “During his tenure, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the company's direction and growth, contributing immensely to its success. His passion, dedication, mentorship and strategic vision have been instrumental in establishing APU as a leader in our industry. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ben for his contributions and wish him the best in retirement and all his future adventures.”
We are thrilled to welcome Jon to the APU family. With his extensive industry experience, underwriting-focused expertise and market know-how, he is a perfect fit to lead us forward, and we’re confident that under his guidance, APU will continue to thrive and achieve new heights of success.”
Francavilla said: “Jon is ideally suited for this role. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position with a thoughtful leadership style that is a great fit with Amwins’ culture.”
