AmTrust names Bublitz head of E&S division

AmTrust has appointed Erich Bublitz as head of its E&S division and expanded the roles of five other executives in a reshuffle that follows the departure of Duffy Koller to MGA platform Paragon.

Bublitz moved to AmTrust from Admiral Insurance Group last summer, initially as vice president of underwriting. He had been senior vice president of operations at the WR Berkley company.

In his new position he will report directly to AmTrust Specialty Insurance president Dan Hickey.

Shannon Piotrowski has been promoted to lead the AmTrust E&S division’s brokerage new business team, moving from her position as director of underwriting for the Central and Southern new business teams.

Other expanded roles include the promotion of Cassie Paul to vice president of the brokerage renewal team, and Jacki Hennig leading the division’s unsupported excess team.

Topher Fylack has been given an additional focus on developing and enhancing the carrier’s binding platform to deliver “cutting-edge” tech solutions.

Commenting on the changes, Bublitz said: “I am honored to now be leading this team and look forward to driving an exceptional 2022. The new leadership team will support a unified national underwriting appetite, with a focus on specific industry segments and continue our dedicated wholesale distribution strategy.”

Hickey added: “I am very excited about the future of AmTrust’s E&S group and am confident that this team will increase our leadership position in the industry and further our reputation as a highly responsive E&S underwriter.”

Koller had been head of AmTrust’s North American E&S business. He has been confirmed as president of Paragon E&S in a move first revealed by this publication, with his former colleague Jeff Lynn also moving over as senior vice president. Lynn had headed excess casualty at AmTrust.

Paragon E&S last month launched its E&S casualty offering led by Koller on Falls Lake Paper.