US insurer poaches several senior underwriters from QBE for expansion

Property/casualty insurer  Skyward Specialty Insurance Group has expanded its professional and management liability lines of business with the hiring of several senior underwriters from QBE North America, and new regional teams in the US Midwest and Southeast.

Jim Mormile (pictured) has been appointed to lead the company's professional liability business. Mormile is joining Skyward with more than 19 years of experience in professional liability, including as senior vice president of QBE North America, vice president at Chubb, and assistant vice president at AIG.

In addition to Mormile, Skyward Specialty has hired Jerome Wilson, previously of QBE North America, to expand the company’s geographic presence with the launch of the new Southeastern region.

Joining Wilson in the new Southeastern region are Amy Long and Kathryn Fuchs, who together with Wilson, have nearly 50 years of professional liability underwriting and business experience.

In the Northeast and Midwest, current managing director of professional liability Lisa McCarney will lead expanded professional liability teams in both regions.

Mari Morahan and Jung Lee-Stouffer, previously with Markel, will strengthen the company’s presence in the Midwest and Northeast, respectively. The addition of these two underwriters brings another 40 plus years of experience to Skyward Specialty.

Additionally, Michael Abdulahad, recently promoted to senior vice president overseeing management liability and financial institutions, has led a further push into the Midwest region. The company has added Matt Ruge and Shane Elliot, most recently of QBE North America, who will join the Midwest directors & officers liability team.

Finally, to support the expansion of the professional and management liability lines of business, Skyward Specialty has hired Anita Rogers as senior vice president of specialty claims.  Rogers joins the company from James River Insurance Company, where she spent the last eight years, most recently as vice president of claims overseeing all E&S claims.

John Burkhart, president of specialty lines at Skyward, said: “With the addition of this top-tier talent, Skyward Specialty is clearly ready to assume the mantel as a premier market in Professional and Management Liability insurance.

“We are excited to bring the deep expertise and experience of Jim, Jerome, Amy, Kathryn, Mari, Jung, Matt and Shane together with the A+ underwriting talent we have already assembled to further the excellent service capabilities, knowledge, and solution innovation that our customers and distribution partners have come to expect from our organisation.”

Sean Duffy, chief claims officer of Skyward, added: “Anita is a fantastic addition to an already extraordinary claims leadership team. With her vast and broad knowledge and experience, she will help us support not only our expanded Professional and Management Liability segments, but also our other claims-made and E&S businesses.  Our customers and insureds deserve and expect superior claims management and Anita will, no doubt, help us continue to evolve our exceptional claims services.”

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