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Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Bolsters Multinational Capabilities

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance has recently implemented significant enhancements to its multinational capabilities, marking a strategic move to better meet the evolving needs of its global clientele.

Under the leadership of David Valzania, Head of Multinational at BHSI, the company has expanded its reach by bolstering its partner network, augmenting its internal team of multinational experts, introducing new multinational products, and integrating a cutting-edge technology platform to elevate service standards.

BHSI has grown its partner network extensively, enabling the provision of BHSI-level service in an impressive 178 countries. The internal team of multinational experts has also seen expansion, with dedicated professionals now operating in 13 cities worldwide. Notably, BHSI has diversified its multinational capabilities to now include surety bonds, further enriching its portfolio to address diverse client requirements.

A pivotal advancement in BHSI’s technological landscape is the adoption of WorldLink, a comprehensive digital solution designed for managing and servicing multinational program business. This innovative platform has significantly enhanced workflow efficiency by unlocking bandwidth and ensuring scalability throughout the organization. Remarkably, BHSI now conducts 95% of its multinational business transactions through WorldLink.

Collaborating with London-based insurtech ChainThat, BHSI leveraged the Beyond Multinational Programs platform to conceptualize and develop the WorldLink solution. The distributed ledger-centric nature of ChainThat’s platform contributes to consistency, compliance, and transparency in multinational transactions.

According to David Valzania, this collaboration empowers BHSI to seamlessly coordinate and collaborate across local underwriters, producing offices, and network partners, streamlining the execution of multinational programs.

In essence, these enhancements underscore BHSI’s commitment to delivering best-in-class multinational programs and services. The strategic expansion of its capabilities positions the company at the forefront of the industry, ready to cater to the dynamic and evolving needs of its global customer base and distribution partners.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Promotes Jeff Jubera to Head of Surety Claims

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance has promoted Jeff Jubera to Head of Surety Claims. He was previously Vice President, Surety Claims, at BHSI.

Jeff joined BHSI as Vice President in 2021 and has more than two decades of surety claims and litigation experience. Prior to BHSI, he was Vice President, Surety Claims, at Intact Insurance Company. During his career he has both developed and managed surety claim operations and served as General Counsel.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

BHSI Appoints Jaghbir as Underwriting Manager, Queensland

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance has upped Sami Jaghbir to Underwriting Manager, Queensland.

“Sami joined BHSI in 2015 to help establish our Brisbane office. He was pivotal in building our Executive and Professional Lines business in Queensland and more recently has led our Commercial Directors & Officers product line in New South Wales,” said Mark Lingafelter, President of Australasia, BHSI. “I am excited to work with Sami and our Brisbane team to bring the strengths of BHSI to our customers and brokers in Queensland. Sami’s professionalism, strong working relationships and collaborative style will help BHSI further develop our market presence across all of our product lines.”

Sami has more than 18 years of insurance industry experience specializing in E&P lines. In his new role he will be based in Brisbane.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Adds Ana Fuertes as Head of Energy and Construction in Spain

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Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance has named Ana Fuertes as Head of Energy and Construction in Spain.

“Energy and construction are among the most dynamic and vital sectors in Spain, and we are committed to being a long-term partner to the energy industry, including the burgeoning renewables sector, and to infrastructure and other major construction projects across Spain,” said Tomás Blas, Head of Property, Spain, BHSI. “I’m so pleased to have Ana leading our efforts, bringing BHSI’s solutions-focus to these sectors and enabling customers to seize opportunities with the assurance of stable protection in place.”

Ana comes to BHSI with 20 years of insurance industry experience. Her career has included several leadership roles in construction, energy and technical lines at other global insurers in Spain.

In Spain, BHSI underwrites single projects as well as annual contractor works and can provide CAT-only capacity for construction customers. Coverages for energy and power generation customers include all risk property damage and business interruption, machinery breakdown, and property CAT insurance.

Ana is based in Madrid.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Ups Edwin Sim to VP and Head of Executive & Professional Lines in Singapore

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Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance has named Edwin Sim as Vice President and Head of Executive & Professional Lines in Singapore.

“Our Executive & Professional Lines capabilities continue to expand in Singapore and throughout Asia. Edwin has been integral to this expansion, while also delivering BHSI holistically, with multi-line solutions and multinational programs, to our customers and brokers throughout the region,” said Scotland Walsh-Riddle, Regional Head of Executive & Professional Lines, Asia, BHSI. “I look forward to working with Edwin and our stellar Singapore team to bring our expansive, simply worded policies and customized Executive & Professional Lines capacity to the marketplace.”

Edwin joined BHSI in 2017 as Assistant Vice President, Executive & Professional Lines in Singapore, and was promoted to Vice President, Executive & Professional Lines in Singapore in 2020. He has more than 25 years of industry experience focused on financial lines. Edwin continues to be based in Singapore.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Adds Louis Bidmead as Head of Transactional Liability Insurance for Asia and the Middle East

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Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance has named Louis Bidmead as Head of Transactional Liability Insurance for Asia and the Middle East. In this role he will work with BHSI’s global transactional liability team to provide BHSI’s comprehensive line of coverages to manage the risks of mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate transactions. He will report to Scotland Walsh-Riddle, Head of Executive & Professional Liability for Asia, BHSI.

“BHSI continues to expand our transactional liability portfolio in Singapore and throughout Asia and the Middle East,” said Scotland. “Louis has extensive knowledge of the intricacies of M&A transactions, and I am excited to have him leading our team as we deliver tailored and timely solutions for customers.”

Louis comes to BHSI with 14 years of experience as both a lawyer specializing in M&A transactions and corporate advisory at major law firms and as a senior underwriter, providing warranty & indemnity insurance solutions at a global insurer. He is based in Singapore.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Names David Corrigan as Head of Property, UK

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Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has announced the appointment of David Corrigan as the Head of Property for the UK. In his new role, Corrigan will be responsible for overseeing the underwriting of BHSI’s comprehensive line of property coverage, which encompasses a wide range of risks, including Construction, Energy, and Mining.

Corrigan’s appointment comes as BHSI aims to grow its customer and broker relationships in the region and drive growth across its property portfolio in the UK and Europe. Nick Major, the UK Country Manager at BHSI, expressed his enthusiasm for working with Corrigan, highlighting his extensive experience and alignment with BHSI’s technical underwriting approach.

With over 25 years of experience in the UK large corporate property market and the London Market wholesale segment, Corrigan brings a wealth of expertise to BHSI. He previously served as the Head of Property for Global Corporate & Specialty at Aviva for a period of five years.

Corrigan will be based in London, further positioning BHSI to effectively serve its customers and stakeholders in the region. His appointment reflects BHSI’s commitment to attracting top talent and leveraging their skills to support the company’s growth objectives.

As BHSI continues to expand its presence in the UK and Europe, the addition of David Corrigan as the Head of Property demonstrates the company’s dedication to providing comprehensive property coverage and further solidifying its position in the insurance market.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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BHSI Expands Names Dimitry Zilberud Head of Marine, Retail U.S.

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has appointed Dimitry Zilberud as the Senior Vice President and Head of Marine, Retail U.S. This additional role adds to his current position as Head of Marine, Australasia at BHSI.

Cathy Miller, the Head of Property, U.S. and Canada at BHSI, highlighted the immense potential for profitable growth in the U.S. marine market. Miller stated, “To fully seize the opportunities present in the U.S. marine market, we have decided to focus separately on the wholesale broker and retail broker channels.” Kristen Hunter and her team will continue to concentrate on the wholesale broker channel, while Dimitry Zilberud will lead the development of the retail broker channel. Miller expressed her enthusiasm to collaborate with both Dimitry and Kristen as they expand their marine relationships in the United States.

Dimitry Zilberud brings more than 25 years of valuable experience in the insurance industry to his new role. He joined BHSI in 2015 as the Head of Marine for Australia and was subsequently promoted to Head of Marine, Australasia. In his new position, Zilberud will report to Mark Lingafelter, the Head of Australasia at BHSI, while also reporting to Cathy Miller. He is based in Sydney.

BHSI offers a comprehensive range of coverage options in inland marine, ocean marine, and transport and logistics liability both in the United States and across the globe. With Dimitry Zilberud leading the marine division in the retail broker channel, BHSI aims to strengthen its position and foster new relationships in the thriving U.S. marine market.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Warren Buffett Lauds Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance’s Remarkable Growth

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

At the 2023 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting, Warren Buffett showered praise upon a Berkshire company that has quietly achieved remarkable growth in a relatively short span of time. The subject of Buffett’s admiration was none other than Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI).

With enthusiasm, Buffett emphasized that BHSI, a company that had blossomed from a mere handful of employees to a thriving workforce of over 1,500 in a mere decade, stood alone as a resounding success story among its peers. Buffett proclaimed, “There’s only been one that I know of, a company started in the last ten years, that has been an overwhelming success. And that’s a company that Ajit (Jain) and four people who joined with him set to develop a new business. It’s called Berkshire Hathaway Specialty.”

Buffett went on to highlight the exceptional achievements of BHSI, particularly its impressive insurance float of $12 billion. He noted that while other companies in the industry struggled to carve out their niche, BHSI thrived without incurring any significant underwriting losses.

Under the guidance of President & Chief Executive Officer Peter Eastwood, who along with three other executives came to the company from AIG, BHSI has grown into a powerhouse insurance company offering a comprehensive range of insurance services, including commercial property, casualty, healthcare professional liability, executive and professional lines, transactional liability, surety, marine, travel, programs, medical stop loss, homeowners, and multinational insurance.

Operating as part of Berkshire Hathaway’s National Indemnity group of insurance companies, BHSI boasted impeccable financial strength ratings of A++ from AM Best and AA+ from Standard & Poor’s, a testament to their unwavering commitment to excellence.

Headquartered in the city of Boston, BHSI established its presence in key locations worldwide, including Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Indianapolis, Irvine, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, San Ramon, Seattle, Stevens Point, Adelaide, Auckland, Brisbane, Cologne, Dubai, Dublin, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, London, Macau, Madrid, Manchester, Melbourne, Munich, Paris, Perth, Singapore, Sydney, and Toronto. This global reach exemplified BHSI’s determination to serve diverse markets and cater to the unique needs of clients around the world.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Promotes Hilary Browne & Cameron Holmes to Global Underwriting Leadership Posts

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has made two key leadership promotions, according to a recent announcement.

Hilary Browne, a 25-year veteran of the global insurance industry, has been promoted to the role of Deputy Global Chief Underwriting Officer. She joined BHSI in 2019 as Country Manager, Ireland, and Head of Casualty for Europe, and most recently served as Global Chief Underwriting Officer, Casualty and Healthcare, and Deputy Head of Europe. Her new role will see her assume executive oversight for BHSI’s global accident and health (A&H) underwriting, multinational underwriting and support, and underwriting affairs, while retaining responsibility for global casualty and healthcare underwriting.

Cameron Holmes, who has more than 20 years of experience in engineering and technical lines property insurance, has been promoted to Global Underwriting Officer, Property for Energy and Construction. He joined BHSI in 2015 as Property Energy and Construction Manager and has been Head of Property Technical Lines in Australia since 2018. In his new role, Cameron will continue to be based in Sydney and will report to Dean LaPierre, BHSI’s Global Chief Underwriting Officer, Property and Marine.

These leadership promotions come at a time of growth for BHSI’s global underwriting portfolio. The company’s executives have praised Hilary and Cameron for their contributions to BHSI and the wider industry, saying that they are ideal candidates for these new roles. Hilary’s transition to her new position will see her Europe region responsibilities move to Alessandro Cerase, the newly named Head of BHSI Europe Region.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.