People Moves: WSS Adds Brininstool in Texas; Skyward Specialty Expands With New Hires

Western Security Surplus Insurance Brokers

Plano, Texas-based wholesale brokerage and general agency Western Security Surplus Insurance Brokers (WSS), an XPT Partners company, hired Blake Brininstool as a broker and underwriter specializing in excess and surplus (E&S) insurance.

Blake will be working closely with the Western Security Surplus team to expand the company’s offering in Texas. He will write risks for a wide range of business lines, including oil and gas, public entities and construction.

He brings over a decade of insurance expertise to his new position, including several years specializing in E&S contract underwriting and brokerage. Brininstool benefits from a retail background as well, having worked with upper-middle market businesses at one of the largest retailers in the country.

Western Security Surplus Insurance Brokers is a wholesale insurance brokerage and general agency founded in 1981, offering a wide range of standard, unique and exclusive insurance programs. WSS holds licenses in various states across the country.

Skyward Specialty Insurance Group

Houston-based Skyward Specialty Insurance Group Inc. expanded its professional liability and management liability lines of business with the addition underwriters and new regional teams in the Midwest and Southeast.

Jim Mormile will lead the professional liability business. Mormile joins the company with more than 19 years of experience in professional liability, including as senior vice president of QBE North America, vice president at Chubb, and assistant vice president at AIG.

Jerome Wilson, previously of QBE North America, expands the company’s geographic presence with the launch of the new southeastern region. Joining Wilson in the southeastern region are Amy Long and Kathryn Fuchs, who together with Wilson have nearly 50 years of professional liability underwriting and business experience.

In the Northeast and Midwest, current managing director of professional liability, Lisa McCarney, will lead expanded professional liability teams in both regions. Mari Morahan and Jung Lee-Stouffer, previously with Markel, will strengthen the company’s presence in the Midwest and Northeast, respectively.

Michael Abdulahad, promoted to senior vice president overseeing management liability and financial institutions, leads a further push into the Midwest region. Skyward Specialty also added Matt Ruge and Shane Elliot, most recently of QBE North America, who join the Midwest directors and officers (D&O) liability team.

In support of the expansion of the professional and management liability lines of business, Skyward Specialty hired Anita Rogers as senior vice president of specialty claims. Rogers joins the company from James River Insurance Co., where she most recently served as vice president of claims overseeing all excess and surplus (E&S) claims.

Skyward Specialty’s subsidiary insurance companies consist of Houston Specialty Insurance Co.; Imperium Insurance Co.; Great Midwest Insurance Co.; Oklahoma Specialty Insurance Co.; and Boston Indemnity Co. Inc. Skyward Specialty was formerly known as Houston International Insurance Group (HIIG).

Topics Texas