People Moves: Godhwani, Bresnahan Assume New Top Posts at BHSI; Big I’s Flannagan to Retire; Aon Names Merlo as Claims Leader

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Names Top Leaders

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) announced Sanjay Godhwani has been named president, North America region, and David Bresnahan will take on the role of global chief operating officer.

Peter Eastwood, president and CEO, BHSI, said the two executives have been “pivotal in the building of BHSI” since its launch in 2013.

Godhwani will be responsible for all North America region underwriting and underwriting support groups, customer and broker engagement, and BHSI’s global catastrophe engineering and analytics group. He has more than 25 years of industry experience and is a fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society. He continues to be based in Boston.

Bresnahan has more than three decades of insurance industry experience. In his new role he will oversee real estate and administration, finance, audit, information technology and operations throughout BHSI’s global platform. He continues to be based in Boston as well.

BHSI provides commercial property, casualty, healthcare professional liability, executive and professional lines, transactional liability, surety, marine, travel, programs, accident and health, medical stop loss, homeowners, and multinational insurance.

Big I’s Flannagan to Retire

The Big “I” reports that Madelyn Flannagan, vice president of agent development, education and research, will retire March 31. Flannagan has dedicated her 26-year career to providing data and research to the insurance industry and independent agents, leading education and advocacy programs and serving to the independent agency channel in general.

During her tenure, Flannagan has led the association’s advocacy programs for education, Best Practices, technology, diversity and inclusion, talent recruitment, development and young agents, as well as the Trusted Choice Disaster Relief Fund and the Trusted Choice COVID-19 Relief Fund. Her research of ongoing industry trends included the biennial Agency Universe Study, a comprehensive picture of the independent agency system, as well as the annual Market Share Report and other studies with various carrier partners. Flannagan was an independent insurance agent for 15 years before joining the Big “I” in 1995.

Aon Names Merlo as Claims Leader for U.S. and Bermuda

Aon named Mike Merlo as its claims leader for U.S. and Bermuda. In his new role, Merlo will work with the firm’s claims leaders across all product lines. He also will be a primary contact for chief claims officers at insurers in the U.S. and Bermuda to support clients on difficult claims.

Merlo has worked at Aon for 18 years. Most recently, he was part of the firm’s U.S. national casualty coverage advocacy and claims resolution practice, working with clients on complex claims.

He will report to both Neil Harrison, Aon’s global chief claims officer, and Joe Peiser, head of commercial risk, North America.

Topics Agencies Claims Leadership Aon