Ryan Specialty has appointed former AIG executive Shawn Yingling as chief retail distribution officer within its specialty underwriting segment, Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers (RSUM).

As the market transitions from the recent hard phase, MGAs and program administrators that have diversified portfolios are better placed to maintain profitability amid softening rates, according to Chris Pesce, national programs leader at One80.

Doxa Insurance’s Promont Insurance Advisors has acquired allied healthcare liability underwriting program manager Pro Liability Group in a deal completed late last month.

Tuckerman Underwriting has secured capacity from Lloyd’s of London to support its new surplus lines allied medical professional liability with commercial general liability program, with the MGA’s latest offering led by new hire Christie Urita.

Start-up MGA platform Bishop Street Underwriters has been linked by multiple sources to the recently announced Conifer divestment as the unnamed acquirer of the US carrier's agency business,

Ryan Specialty has completed its previously announced acquisitions of US Assure and Greenhill Underwriting Insurance Services, deals which will significantly bolster the firm’s MGU operations.

Roosevelt Road Specialty has brought in NSM Insurance Group’s Chris Smyth and appointed the latest addition to its expansive roster as chief underwriting officer for its sports, leisure and entertainment-focused MGU Renaissance Specialty Insurance.

Ryan Specialty has paid $1.075bn up front for US Assure, or 12.8x its trailing 12 months Ebitda, with consideration potentially rising to $1.475bn for the builder’s risk specialist in a transaction hailed as the most significant enhancement to its programs business since it acquired All Risks in 2020.

XS Global has been granted a full licence to begin operating within the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) with the MGA poised to begin offering coverage solutions to clients working within the natural resources sectors.

The US MGA sector experienced further “robust growth” in 2023 as direct premiums written (DPW) in the segment increased 12 percent to $102.1bn, driven by continued hard market conditions and the availability of fronting capacity, the latest data from Conning shows.

Former Everest Group reinsurance head John Doucette has made his return to the industry after joining MGA platform Amynta Group to spearhead the launch of a new unit called Amynta Risk Solutions.

Ambac Financial Group’s expansive insurance distribution platform Cirrata Group has launched program administrator Tara Hill Insurance Services, led by former Hallmark Financial underwriting executive Peter McKeegan with a focus on management and professional liability.

Specialty Program Group’s motorsports-focused Jones Birdsong Insurance Services business has hired Matt Mowan from Aon-owned K&K Insurance Group.

Insurtech MGA reThought Flood has become the latest addition to the American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS)’s partner program, a move which enables the start-up to broaden its reach.

“Our model really is to find niche expertise in our industry classes and build products around that expertise and offer multi-line solutions for our segments,” Ryan Specialty National Programs’ co-president Bill Evans has told