Category: Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) is introducing Public and Products Liability Insurance in the UK, Ireland and Southern Europe, and Employer’s Liability Insurance in the UK and Ireland.

The company also named Martin Leeks, Senior Vice President, Casualty, UK and Southern Europe.

“Under Martin’s leadership, we look forward to building out our casualty team in the region and bringing to market creative solutions with the financial strength and long-term underwriting focus of BHSI,” said Tom Bolt, President, BHSI, UK and Southern Europe. “Martin’s wealth of casualty underwriting expertise, coupled with our broad appetite and stable capacity, will translate to solutions that serve customers well for years to come.”

Along with local casualty coverage in the UK and Southern Europe, BHSI will provide multinational programs and underwrite certain targeted trades via Coverholders.

Martin comes to BHSI with 26 years of casualty underwriting experience, most recently at Mitsui Sumitomo at Lloyd’s. Before that, he was Senior Underwriter at Chartis (AIG) Cat Excess and held casualty underwriting roles at ACE Europe and Zurich. He began his career handling international claims.

© 2017 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 the 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.

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

It was just last year that Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) marked its initial entry into Professional Lines in Canada with the launch of Professional First Miscellaneous Professional Liability Insurance, geared for large commercial entities, from consultants to property managers.

Now, BHSI has introduced its Professional First Professional Liability and Network Security & Privacy Policy and announced that it has appointed Geoffrey Kendrick as Head of Professional Lines in Canada.

“We are pleased to round out our Executive & Professional Lines products with comprehensive professional liability coverage for large, complex technology-related risks,” said Michael Densham, Head of Executive & Professional Lines, BHSI, Canada. “We are also excited to have Geoff leading our efforts in the Professional Lines marketplace. His extensive experience will serve BHSI and our customers well.”

BHSI’s new Professional First Professional Liability and Network Security & Privacy Policy is designed to address the needs of a wide range of enterprises, from systems integrators, to telecommunications providers, to IT staffing firms. The policy provides coverage for numerous exposures, encompassing: (i) third party exposures resulting from security and privacy breaches, including regulatory investigations, fines and penalties; (ii) a wide range of direct expenses an insured incurs in responding to a breach or extortion threat; (iii) media liability exposures; and (iv) lost income and related expenses resulting from interruption of the insured’s business due to a network security failure. The new form was purposefully drafted with clear, concise language, and builds in as standard many coverages traditionally available only by endorsement.

Geoffrey Kendrick joins BHSI after 11 years at Zurich Financial Services, Global Corporate. At Zurich, he held various underwriting roles of increasing responsibility focusing on professional indemnity and product safety & recall business in offices around the globe. Developing international insurance solutions for large, multinational risks, while addressing the complex and ever changing business, legal and compliance environment is his specialty. Geoffrey holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Western Ontario, King’s College.

He is based in BHSI’s office in Toronto.

© 2017 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 the 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.

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (BHSI) has introduced Group Personal Accident, Corporate Travel and Expatriate Medical Insurance in Singapore and Hong Kong.
The company also named Kok Leong Koo as Underwriting Manager, Accident & Health, based in Singapore, and Janus Law as Assistant Vice President, Accident & Health based in Hong Kong.

BHSI’s new Corporate Travel and Expatriate Medical Insurance products combine coverage with 24/7 access to BHSI’s Care and Concierge Services. These services include emergency medical, evacuation and repatriation assistance; medical referrals; assistance retrieving lost luggage; and worldwide Concierge support for events like last minute reservations to house sitting services. The company’s new Group Personal Accident Insurance also offers expansive coverage with the flexibility of numerous add-on benefits.

“We are pleased to launch our first Accident & Health solutions in Asia — backed by BHSI’s financial strength,” said Phillip Brain, Head of Accident & Health, BHSI in Asia. “The BHSI Care and Concierge Services embedded in our travel covers are indicative of the high level of service we plan to bring to this marketplace.”

These new A&H products are available in Singapore and Hong Kong and will launch in Macau in the coming weeks. In addition, BHSI continues to provide facultative reinsurance for Accident & Health exposures through its four offices in Asia, which are located in Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau and Malaysia.

Kok Leong comes to BHSI with more than a decade of experience in different underwriting and business development roles in the Singapore and Malaysia markets, which includes underwriting expertise in a Malaysian life operation. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Malaya. Kok Leong is based in BHSI’s office in Singapore.

Janus has more than 10 years of experience in Accident & Health markets in Hong Kong and China, serving in various senior underwriting and management roles, including chief underwriting officer for Accident & Health products in Asia. Janus holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Hong Kong and is a Fellow of the Life Management Institute. She is based in BHSI’s office in Hong Kong.

© 2017 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 the 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.

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (BHSI), in coordination with its affiliate Berkshire Hathaway International Insurance Limited (BHIIL), has established a new office in London and filled key executive roles.

The company named Richard Nathan as Head of Property Lines; Patrick Brown as Head of Executive & Professional Liability; and Andrew Walker as Head of Claims, for BHSI in the UK and Southern Europe.

“We are pleased to expand our specialty insurance operations with a new London office and a growing team of professionals with excellent capabilities and character,” said Tom Bolt, President, UK and Southern Europe, BHSI. “Richard and Patrick will deliver bespoke specialty solutions backed by financial strength, while Andrew will ensure that excellent in-house claims expertise is available for customers from day one.”

The new office will serve brokers and customers in the UK and Southern European countries, including Ireland, Spain, France and Italy.

© 2017 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 the 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.

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (BHSI) has received a license from Labuan FSA to provide non-life reinsurance to the Malaysian market.

The company also established a new office in Kuala Lumpur and named Gaithrie Nandrajog as Branch Manager and Koo Kang Wuu as Executive & Professional Lines and Business Development Manager in Malaysia.

After putting down roots in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Macau, we are pleased to further expand our operations in Asia and bring facultative reinsurance capacity and new products with the backing of our strong balance sheet to selected Malaysian insurance partners,” said Marc Breuil, President, Asia, BHSI. “With the opening of our Malaysian office, we continue to deepen our underwriting and claims capabilities in the region.”

Gaithrie, who will oversee BHSI’s new Malaysian reinsurance operation, holds a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of West England, Bristol. Koo holds an MBA from RMIT University plus a B. A. (Hons) from the University of Hertfordshire (UK). Both come to BHSI with more than a decade of experience in the Malaysian insurance industry.

© 2017 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 the 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.

BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) is introducing Inland and Ocean Marine Insurance in Canada and has named Gord Rider as Senior Marine Underwriter.

“We are pleased to welcome Gord to our team of marine specialists,” said John Evans, Vice President of Marine, BHSI. “With Gord at the helm, BHSI in Canada has launched ocean marine products — including ocean cargo, stock throughput and project cargo insurance — as well as a full line of inland marine products. All of these products come with BHSI’s hallmark clarity of coverage and formidable financial strength.”

Gord joins BHSI from Chubb Insurance Company of Canada, where he was most recently Senior Marine Underwriter. Before that, he was a Marine Underwriter at Chubb and at Coast Underwriters Ltd. He received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

© 2017 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 the 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.

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (BHSI) has launched Professional First Financial Institutions Civil Liability Insurance in Australia and New Zealand.

“Many forces have shifted the risk landscape for financial institutions, from the lessons learned from the complex litigation of the global financial crisis, to the rise of new disruptive technologies and novel ways of conducting business,” said Vincent Barker, Manager, Financial Institutions, BHSI, Australia. “We’re pleased to offer a market-leading civil liability policy wording that keeps pace with these changes and provides clarity of coverage and flexibility for financial institutions.”

BHSI’s new policy expressly addresses the broad range of claims financial institutions can face as they provide diverse services to many different parties. It uses an expansive ‘professional services’ trigger not linked to a client, fee or specified service. The policy also covers bail bond costs, deprivation of assets expenses, court attendance and prosecution costs, providing peace of mind to insured professionals.

BHSI’s new Civil Liability policy also includes pre-investigation loss coverage. Contractual liability and mandatory contractual terms coverage is provided as well.

BHSI has a broad appetite for mid-size and large financial institutions of all types—from insurance companies and banks, to financial administrators, financial technology providers, and M&A/corporate advisory firms.

“Our new Civil Liability policy wording for financial institutions provides certainty for the often complex risks of the financial institutions space,” said Karen Poching, Senior Underwriter, Executive and Professional Lines, BHSI, New Zealand. “We are pleased to add this essential coverage to our growing suite of policies for financial institutions.”

© 2016 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 the 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.

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (BHSI) has received a license to provide insurance and reinsurance in Macau, and has filled key positions in its newly established Macau office.

“It is a very interesting time in Macau, with continued diversification of the territory’s economic profile,” said Marc Breuil, President, Asia, BHSI. “We are pleased to expand our Asian footprint and bring to Macau local knowledge and expertise along with BHSI’s unique balance sheet and financial strength.”

Beginning immediately, BHSI Macau will be providing commercial property, energy, construction, terrorism, casualty, executive and professional lines, surety, accident and health, and marine insurance.

The addition of the Macau office expands BHSI’s regional presence in Asia, which already includes the insurance hubs in Hong Kong and Singapore.

The company named Yasmin Chan as Branch Manager, and Ivory Chong as Underwriting Manager, in Macau. Yasmin comes to BHSI with 20 years of experience in the Macau insurance and reinsurance market. She holds a Bachelor in Business Administration degree from the University of Macau.

Ivory joins BHSI with more than 15 years of industry experience, including more than a decade in the Macau market. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economic Law from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

© 2016 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 the 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.