QBE launches US specialty casualty re/insurer

QBE North America today announced the launch of a Specialty Casualty business as part of its strategy to invest in areas where the insurer can offer distinct advantages to business customers.

“With QBE Specialty Casualty, we see a clear opportunity to build a long-term franchise that is grounded in expert underwriting with a data-driven approach to meet the unique needs of customers,” said Tom Fitzgerald, president of Specialty & Commercial insurance at QBE North America.

“It will allow us to deepen our relationships with our limited and preferred network of brokers while we further improve the balance and synergies in our diversified business portfolio.”

QBE Specialty Casualty’s offering will include admitted and non-admitted primary, lead umbrella and excess liability products, targeting a wide range of business segments across a diverse set of industries.

To launch the new business unit, QBE has hired a team led by four senior executives with proven track records of building market-leading capabilities in Specialty Casualty while generating stable and sustainable performance over time.   

Four-strong team

Heading up the new unit are Karen London, president, Specialty Casualty; Mike Foley, chief underwriting officer, Specialty Casualty; Morgan Wichmann, head of Casualty non-Construction; and Craig Freid, head of Casualty Construction.

All four have experience in the Specialty Casualty market with a focus on complex and hard-to-place risks. Before joining QBE, they held leadership positions at Berkshire Hathaway.  

“Our team has an unmatched reputation, and we are confident they will build the industry’s leading Specialty Casualty business,” said Fitzgerald. “We’re excited to have them on board and look forward to their contributions to QBE North America.”