Ascot names casualty and product innovation leader for Ethos Specialty

Ascot has hired Jeffrey Canfield as executive vice president of casualty and product innovation for Ethos Specialty, its wholly owned managing general underwriter (MGU).

Canfield previously spent more than two decades in senior casualty underwriting positions, including stints at AIG and Aspen. He served as Argo Group’s head of casualty before taking on a development role as head of innovation, responsible for delivering alternative distribution models, automation and product enhancement for start-ups.

He assumes responsibility for expanding Ethos’ product range and underwriting a broad suite of casualty-based products. This includes furthering the underwriting and digital capabilities of Ascot Group’s small excess casualty portal for wholesale brokers, and launching new SME targeted casualty solutions. He is also responsible for embedding technology and automation into Ethos Specialty’s underwriting process.

Canfield reports to Nick Greggains, chief executive officer at Ethos Specialty. He works with Adam Schnell, the executive vice president (EVP) who underwrites a range of real estate and construction liability solutions, Navine Aggarwal, EVP of M&A insurance, and Brendan Walsh, EVP of property.

Greggains said Ethos Specialty wants to build a market leading platform which fuses exceptional technical expertise with the highest quality operational efficiencies. “We’re confident this technology, underwriting and distribution model can provide long term profitability to our capital partners,” he said.

Canfield added: “Ethos Specialty offers a distinct type of strategy which mixes high quality underwriting with operational efficiencies as a single service to risk partners.”

Ethos also hired Jonathan Legge, EVP of strategic operations, in April to enhance its service and infrastructure capabilities.