Ascot creates new US marine team
Ascot has created a new US marine insurance team, which is led by Chris Piazza as its executive vice president and head of US marine insurance.
According to the company Piazza will lead all aspects of Ascot’s US marine insurance business. He will be supported by new hires, Tom Nasso, Dana Piazza, and Jim Gehrke as senior vice presidents of marine insurance who will report in to him. The team will be bolstered by existing Ascot marine underwriters Lou Gehrig, SVP, and Devin Lefebvre, VP. The team will have deep regional coverage with underwriters in New York, Baltimore, and Houston and will be using Ascot’s admitted US paper.
Piazza has been in the marine insurance industry for over eighteen years having spent the last fifteen with The Navigators Group most recently serving as the national product line director for marine hull and liability. According to Ascot Nasso, Dana Piazza, and Gehrke have uniquely deep marine insurance experience and have proven track records of excellence in underwriting and relationship management with brokers and clients.
“The launch of this US marine business under Chris, combined with our established Lloyd’s marine team in London and Houston, will make Ascot Group a true leader in the global marine market,” said Andrew Brooks, Ascot Group chief executive officer.
“We are delighted to have Chris, Tom, Dana, and Jim put their trust in Ascot and join our team,” Greg Wolyniec, head of group strategy, added, “They bring a well-recognised reputation for excellence in underwriting and service to brokers and clients, and will successfully launch a market leading marine business.”
“We are very pleased to join such a high-quality organisation” said Chris Piazza. “We are excited to launch our business leveraging Ascot’s capital strength and to be a core part of Ascot’s growing US specialty commercial business.”
