Ascot names head of property for Ethos Specialty

Ascot has appointed Brendan Walsh as executive vice president and head of property for Ethos Specialty, its wholly owned managing general underwriter (MGU).

Walsh is responsible for the management and development of Ethos Specialty’s property portfolio, which provides underwriting services to a range of capital partners. He manages existing Ethos programmes and develops new ones, as well as improving technical and operational efficiencies for clients.

He joins from Axis Insurance where he was senior vice president of excess and surplus property. During eleven years at Axis Walsh held a range of property underwriting and engineering positions in both Australia and the US. He started his insurance career at FM Global in Sydney, spending eight years managing large client portfolios.

Ethos currently provides four property solutions through its specialty property team: commercial excess property; manufacturing processing and warehousing risks; and two deductible solutions for wind and AOP.

Walsh is based in Chicago and reports to Nick Greggains, CEO of Ethos Specialty.

Greggains, said: “As part of the Ascot Group, Ethos Specialty delivers a unique proposition to our capital providers by providing the highest levels of technical and operational qualities, through innovative programmes offered to brokers and clients. A key element of this model is having market-leading underwriters to successfully manage and develop our portfolios over cycles.”

Walsh added: “Ethos Specialty offers a refreshing difference to the MGU world by providing quality underwriting and operational efficiencies combined with innovative solutions and programmes for brokers and insureds.”