Liberty Mutual bolsters middle market operation

Liberty Mutual Insurance has strengthened its middle market operation with three new strategic additions.

Lisa Gentile, who is based in San Francisco and formerly served as vice president of excess casualty at Travelers, will lead the midsize umbrella underwriting team.

Marcus Cooper will lead a new Midwest division that was created in an effort to better serve area middle market buyers and brokers. He joined from Zurich, where he ran the company's country-wide middle market operation. Cooper is based in Chicago and will lead a team of regional underwriters.

Finally, John Schwirtz has been appointed to lead the Northeast division. He joined Liberty Mutual ten years ago and has held a number of important positions, most recently leading a team of energy underwriters through Liberty's expansion into the Houston market and the utility sector. Schwirtz is based in Boston.

"Liberty Mutual is committed to growing and leading in the midsize commercial insurance market," said Matt Waters, national insurance middle market general manager. "These strategic investments will make us easier to do business with and strengthen the value we provide to our brokers and buyers."