July 2021
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
A Message from Joe Fitzpatrick, Midwest Zone President, North America General Insurance
Summer is finally here – and with it, many new opportunities to help you solve your insurance needs.
This issue of The Midwest AIGConnection highlights a product area where AIG work together to provide client solutions: Excess Casualty. This is a product where AIG has been a market leader.
As part of our experience and leadership, we have unmatched data and intelligence that helped us recognize early on issues and trends many others are only now addressing. Now we, have a clear and robust appetite across all of these lines and can help you keep on top of emerging risks and claims trends.
In this issue, we also spotlight and celebrate some of our recent successes in the zone. You will also learn of organizational updates and more about our product solutions.
We look forward to our continued engagement – updating you with regular communications like The Midwest AIGConnection and – yes – getting together in person where and when it is appropriate to illustrate our commitment to you and strengthen our partnership.
Here’s to great days and we look forward to continuing to engage with you so we can provide solutions to your risks.
Best regards,
To learn more, visit www.aig.com/whyaig-excess-casualty or contact your local Excess Casualty underwriting manager:
AIG is looking to the future with a robust appetite to grow lead umbrella and mid- and high-excess placements across a broad range of industries – with capacity easily integrated and coordinated across AIG’s U.S., London and Bermuda platforms.
“With our experience in the excess casualty market, we have unmatched data and intelligence to draw from to help our clients keep on top of emerging risks and claim trends,” says Michael Kirchgessner, Head of North America Excess Casualty at AIG. “This deep intelligence gave us the foresight to make necessary portfolio adjustments early on, ahead of the curve of the market cycle. Those adjustments are behind us, and we are now in growth mode in all of our areas including lead umbrella, excess casualty etc.”
Excess Casualty has up to $75 million in total capacity available on an individual account basis – and market-leading risk control capabilities that enable us to really understand unique and complex exposures and craft bespoke solutions. “Our risk control expertise is also why clients can be confident we can write their risk today and adapt coverage as their operations evolve and expand,” Michael adds.
In today’s volatile and evolving litigation environment, AIG also stands out for its proven abilities to handle intricate and challenging excess casualty claims. “By adapting our approach as needed to the current environment and leveraging our knowledge of specific venues and jurisdictions, we can help achieve the best possible outcomes for clients,” Michael says.
While AIG is well known for handling the most complex excess casualty accounts, we also deliver the same deep claims expertise and experience to smaller companies and their brokers with fast and easy access to coverage through the online quoting and binding of policies in AIG e-Excess.
“At AIG Excess Casualty, we stand ready to support clients’ risk throughout the tower of excess casualty limits, whether that is a standard lead or excess policy or the need for creative structures or customized coverage solutions,” Michael notes.
A Partnership Built on Problem-Solving
Extraordinary teamwork fueled this exceptional multiline win with a large retailer. AIG provided AIGRM®, Excess Casualty and WorldRisk® programs for the client. There were many reasons for this success, the top two being our creative problem-solving and flexibility to fit the program specifically to the client’s needs. In addition, we worked closely and transparently with the client and broker, underscoring the value of our data and analytics capabilities to the data-focused risk manager. Our client commended AIG’s resources and expertise, as their top priority was a carrier’s capabilities and partnership potential, rather than the price of the product.
Delivering on All Fronts to Meet Client’s Needs
AIG in Cleveland teamed up with the broker to bind new private non-profit business for a health and wellness company. Working through multiple rounds of negotiations, AIG provided the client with the best solution to meet their needs– delivering on limit, retentions and terms and conditions for this success.
Forging a Strong Multi-line Relationship
When a newly public, spun-off manufacturing company was looking for a strategic insurance partner, AIG’s Midwest Zone was more than ready to fulfill that role. The opportunity to achieve a mutually beneficial, long-term relationship together resonated with the client’s CFO, and AIG was confident it had a great understanding of the entity’s insurance portfolio. In a stewardship meeting, AIG expressed early interest in quoting the client’s U.S. and foreign casualty programs in conjunction with the lead umbrella. By working as One AIG to closely coordinate AIGRM and Foreign Casualty new business quotes with the client’s lead umbrella renewal, AIG was able to deliver a multi-line option that proved our commitment to establishing a strong relationship with the client as a strategic insurance partner.
To help promote mental health awareness during the month of May, the AIG Chicago Young Professionals Employee Resource Group (ERG) hosted a series of short virtual events for AIG's employees. The goal of the week-long observance was to help encourage employees to take a few minutes each day to focus on their mental health and well-being. Activities included meditation and mindful movement breaks, with exercises performed from the comfort of a computer chair; virtual mindfulness sessions, where employees reviewed quick and effective techniques for keeping their minds fresh throughout the day; and a virtual group walk, where employees had the opportunity to participate in a walk around the block with colleagues as a way to reset. These activities served as reminders to employees to take short mental and physical breaks during the workday to refocus, while also letting them know they are not alone in their mental health journeys.
Financial Lines Regional Executive, Midwest
Brian Fish has been appointed Financial Lines Regional Executive for the Midwest. In this role, Brian will be responsible for delivering the Financial Lines product, distribution and talent strategies. He will serve as a critical touchpoint for brokers, clients and the Distribution team as we aim to more consistently and effectively message and execute on our business strategies. Brian has 19 years of experience in the industry and joins AIG from Arch where he was a Senior Vice President responsible for the Central Region and all wholesale brokers nationally.
Professional Liability and Cyber Regional Underwriting Manager, Midwest
Lisa Shapiro has been appointed Professional Liability and Cyber Regional Underwriting Manager for the Midwest, succeeding Sean Free. Lisa has been with AIG for 13 years, most recently as an Assistant Regional Underwriting Manager on the Professional Liability team.
Underwriting Specialist, Healthcare, Lexington
Based out of Chicago, Chris joined Lexington from Beazley where he served as Business Innovation Consultant before underwriting for their Miscellaneous Medical and Life Sciences team. Prior to Beazley, he worked for Allianz as a Market Management Analyst and Catastrophe Modeler. Chris is excited to join Lexington’s healthcare team, and eager to underwrite within its diverse appetite for medical facilities-based risks.
Global Head of Multinational Financial Lines
Jeanmarie has been named Global Head of Multinational Financial Lines. In this role, she will lead the development and execution of AIG's multinational strategy for global financial lines. She also will be responsible for portfolio management and underwriting quality, as well as executing complex multinational programs across a range of products and geographies. For the past 12 years, Jeanmarie has been instrumental in defining AIG's underwriting strategies and product innovation for Professional Liability, as Head of Professional Liability for North America Financial Lines. Before that, she was Chief Underwriting Officer for Professional Liability and held other senior underwriting roles at Catlin Group and CNA.
Head of Underwriting, North America Retail Property
Mark Maritzen has been promoted Head of Underwriting for North America Retail Property. In this role, Mark will continue to drive the profitability of Retail Property’s risk management and middle market portfolios, delivering differentiated value to retail property brokers and their clients. He will also have expanded responsibility for all Zonal Retail Property Underwriting Executives moving forward. Mark has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry; before joining AIG in 2019, Mark held roles of increasing responsibility as an underwriter, reinsurer and broker at Sompo International, Tokio Marine Global, Guy Carpenter, Marsh and Gerling Insurance.
Strategic Business Leader, AIGRM®
Trevor Gallagher has been named Strategic Business Leader for AIG Risk Management (AIGRM®). He will be responsible for AIGRM’s Specialty Portfolio, which comprises Transportation, Professional Employment Organizations, Construction and Closeouts/Structured Programs. Trevor will coordinate activities within actuarial, finance, underwriting and operations, and develop strategies to develop solutions. He has more than 21 years of experience with AIG.
Strategic Business Leader, AIGRM®
David Zelickman has been named Strategic Business Leader for AIG Risk Management (AIGRM). He will be responsible for AIGRM’s Core Portfolio, which consists of all other industry group and product designs not part of the Specialty Portfolio. David will lead AIGRM U.S. Field Operations to drive consistency in underwriting, service and market-facing activities across all zones. All Casualty zonal leaders will now report to David, with a matrix reporting relationship to Trevor Gallagher for Specialty Portfolio products. David, who has more than 30 years of experience, joined AIGRM in 2018 after a career at Chubb.
Head of Terrorism and Political Violence Risk
AIG has named Edward Atkin as Head of Terrorism and Political Violence Risk for our Global Center of Excellence (COE) Lloyd’s of London syndicate 1183 managed by Talbot Underwriting Ltd. Edward brings to the role 12 years of experience in this highly specialized market. Previously, he was Senior Class Underwriter for War and Terrorism on Syndicate 1183 and before that held other underwriting roles at Talbot. He and his team joined AIG through the 2018 acquisition of Talbot.
Head of LexPro
Julia has been named Head of LexPro, an appointment that marks Lexington's entry into wholesale-only distribution of management liability for small/medium -sized enterprises (SMEs). LexPro is an extension of Lexington's commitment to align resources, risk appetite and distribution strategies to meet the needs of the evolving excess and surplus lines market. Julia has more than 15 years of experience in underwriting excellence and client service. At LexPro, she leads a team of dedicated underwriters providing SME accounts with annual revenues below $150 million with products including employment practices liability, fiduciary and crime insurance through wholesale brokers. And prior to that was Vice President and U.S. Head of Commercial D&O at Validus Specialty and before that was Vice President in the Management Solutions Group at Zurich North America.
Wholesale Distribution Leader, North America General Insurance
Ella has been appointed as Wholesale Distribution Leader for North America General Insurance. In this new role, she will work closely with wholesale brokers to deliver differentiated value for AIG's Commercial Insurance business and partner with business unit leaders across Retail, Lexington, Glatfelter, AIG Programs and Captive Solutions. She will play an important role in strengthening relationships and maximizing AIG's franchise value to improve retention and drive growth. Ella joined AIG in 2020 as National Director of Business Development for Lexington Insurance. Previously, she held executive positions at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions as Senior Vice President overseeing distribution management and sales for Swiss Re's excess and surplus lines business.
Chief Operating Officer, General Insurance Claims
David has been appointed to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer of General Insurance Claims, based in London. In this role, he is responsible for establishing a globally consistent strategy for delivering claims services and operations. He will oversee the claims performance and claims administration teams. David returned to AIG in 2020 as Chief Claims Officer, International General Insurance. He has more than 25 years' experience, including international claims roles at AXA XL and earlier in his career at AIG and Royal & Sun Alliance.
AIG has also made several appointments to its North America Financial Lines leadership, as part of new operating structure designed to enhance AIG's value to clients and broker partners.
Our local zones are the cornerstone of how we deliver our products and services to our brokers and clients. The Zone Presidents and their teams are here to assist you and welcome your inquiries.
Please feel free to share this newsletter within your organization.
American International Group, Inc. (AIG) is a leading global insurance organization. AIG member companies provide a wide range of property casualty insurance, life insurance, retirement solutions, and other financial services to customers in more than 80 countries and jurisdictions. These diverse offerings include products and services that help businesses and individuals protect their assets, manage risks and provide for retirement security. AIG common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Additional information about AIG can be found at www.aig.com | YouTube: www.youtube.com/aig | Twitter: @AIGinsurance https://twitter.com/AIGinsurance | LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/aig.
AIG is the marketing name for the worldwide property-casualty, life and retirement, and general insurance operations of American International Group, Inc. For additional information, please visit our website at www.aig.com. All products and services are written or provided by subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group, Inc. Products or services may not be available in all countries, and coverage is subject to actual policy language. Non-insurance products and services may be provided by independent third parties. Certain property-casualty coverages may be provided by a surplus lines insurer. Surplus lines insurers do not generally participate in state guaranty funds, and insureds are therefore not protected by such funds.
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