Ironshore promotes exec to product line manager

Ironshore’s specialty and casualty unit has named Merle Shapiro as product line manager for public entity lines.

Shapiro will be responsible for expanding Ironshore’s public entity practice and building upon its platform of serving municipal and state governmental units, special public facilities, school districts and higher educational institutions. She is based in Ironshore’s San Francisco office, reporting to Kevin Whitehead, chief underwriting officer of the specialty casualty unit.

Shapiro was promoted to head the public entity line after serving for more than five years as assistant product line manager. Prior to joining Ironshore in 2009, she was vice president with Victor O Schinnerer & Co as a specialty underwriter for primary and excess programmes for public sector clients.

“Merle will oversee this specialty sector of the market, which demands a focused perspective in understanding public sector risks,” said Whitehead.

“We are pleased that she will assume this expanded role to continue to contribute to Ironshore’s growth across our nationwide specialty casualty platform.”