Ryan Specialty recruits Aon’s former CIO/COO into senior role

Ryan Specialty Group has unveiled a new chief operating and technology officer of  Ryan Specialty Benefits.

Kirk Behrens (pictured) will work closely with John Zern, president and CEO of Ryan Specialty Benefits, in leading the development of this specialty, which focuses on wholesale benefits brokerage and managing general underwriting capabilities to serve the needs of the retail brokerage community.

Behrens has extensive operations and technology experience within insurance brokerage. Prior to joining Ryan Specialty, Behrens held senior leadership positions at Aon including chief information officer, Aon, and chief operating officer, Global Health Solutions.

He also previously held leadership roles at Marsh and was a management consultant at Accenture.

Patrick G. Ryan, founder, chairman and CEO of Ryan Specialty, said: “ Ryan Specialty Benefits is a new vertical for us and is very important strategically. With John Zern at the head of our benefits offering, we are able to attract the outstanding talent of insurance veteran Kirk Behrens. Kirk, working alongside John Zern, provides our clients with a wide and diverse path of experience in the insurance industry.”

Zern remarked: “Kirk brings a unique mix of strategy, commercial, operations and technology expertise and experience as well as a proven track record that will be instrumental in building Ryan Specialty Benefits. I am very much looking forward to working with Kirk to set the foundation of Ryan Specialty Benefits.”

Behrens said: “I am thrilled to be joining Ryan Specialty Benefits to build an industry-leading employee benefits wholesale specialty solution provider. This is a unique opportunity that I am privileged to have and excited to develop with Pat, John and the top talent at Ryan Specialty.”

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