Insurance
10 excess and surplus lines underwriting experts
These ten underwriters and underwriting leaders have written or overseen excess and surplus lines business at insurance companies. A reader can learn how insurers underwrite and manage excess and surplus lines risks.
Professionals to explore
01—10Bryan Wilson, CRIS
LinkedInExperience: Senior Underwriter- E&S Excess Casualty · Coaction Global
Senior Underwriter- E&S Excess Casualty at Coaction Global since December 2022. Former Underwriter, E&S Excess Casualty (2022) and Underwriter, E&S Primary Casualty (2018–2022) at Sompo. The profile lists experience with real estate, hospitality and construction classes of business.
David Rhodes
LinkedInExperience: AVP - Umbrella Excess E&S Underwriting Manager- West Region · Zurich North America
Former AVP - Umbrella Excess E&S Underwriting Manager- West Region at Zurich North America (2018–2021). AVP Executive Underwriter Excess Casualty at Zurich North America since December 2021, where the profile describes managing and underwriting a portfolio of $24MM in GWP for national and global sized accounts. Former Head of Energy Excess Casualty at Zurich North America (2014–2018).
Ignacio R. Martinez, MBA, CRIS
LinkedInExperience: E&S Senior Underwriter, CRIS · Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
Former E&S Senior Underwriter, CRIS at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (2019–2022) and E&S Underwriter, CRIS at Vela Insurance Services (a Berkley Company) (2016–2019). The profile also lists E&S Senior Underwriter, MBA, CRIS at Argo, with dates shown from January 2024 to December 2026.
Jane Abney
LinkedInExperience: Consulting Underwriting Director - Excess & Surplus Lines · The Cincinnati Insurance Companies
Former Consulting Underwriting Director - Excess & Surplus Lines at The Cincinnati Insurance Companies (2011–2019) and Chief Underwriting Specialist there (1996–2011). Senior Underwriting Manager at Berkley Aspire (a Berkley Company) since March 2025, and Underwriting Manager there since August 2019.
Katherine Turner
LinkedInExperience: E&S Underwriter - Excess Casualty · Zurich North America
E&S Underwriter - Excess Casualty at Zurich North America since July 2025. Former Senior Underwriter (2025), Underwriter - Commercial Retail Excess Casualty (2023–2025), Associate Underwriter (2022–2023) and Underwriting Trainee (2022–2023) at Markel. The profile summary mentions Markel's Retail Excess Casualty.
Kimberly Klug
LinkedInExperience: Senior Underwriter AVP - Casualty Excess & Surplus Lines · XL Catlin
Senior Underwriter AVP - Casualty Excess & Surplus Lines at XL Catlin since May 2015. The profile describes producing and underwriting a book of primary GL and liquor liability brokerage business through wholesale brokers on a surplus lines basis. Former Senior Underwriter at Penn American Insurance Company (1980–2006).
KJ Waller, CPCU
LinkedInExperience: Executive Underwriter, E&S Property · Navigators, a Brand of The Hartford
Executive Underwriter, E&S Property at Navigators, a Brand of The Hartford since January 2026. Former Senior Underwriter, E&S Property (2025–2026) and Underwriter, E&S Property (2023–2025) at Sompo, and E&S Property Underwriter II (2023) and E&S Property Underwriter I (2021–2023) at Ironshore Insurance.
Megan Olson
LinkedInExperience: E&S Casualty Underwriting Manager · The Hanover Insurance Group
E&S Casualty Underwriting Manager at The Hanover Insurance Group since May 2024, and former Casualty Senior Underwriting Specialist there (2022–2024). Former Senior Underwriter Brokerage Property at Markel (2021–2022) and Senior Underwriter at Berkley Aspire (a Berkley Company) (2019–2021).
Tom Bredahl, CPCU, ARe
LinkedInExperience: President and Chief Underwriting Officer, Surplus & Specialty · Crum & Forster
President and Chief Underwriting Officer, Surplus & Specialty at Crum & Forster since October 2018, where the profile says this person leads the Surplus & Specialty Lines division. Former Chief Underwriting Officer at First Mercury at Crum & Forster (2014–2018) and Executive Vice President, Head of Facultative Insurance at OdysseyRe (2009–2014).
Tommy Ellis
LinkedInExperience: E&S Property Underwriter, Senior · Munich Re Specialty - North America
Former E&S Property Underwriter, Senior (2024–2026) and E&S Property Underwriter (2021–2024) at Munich Re Specialty - North America; the profile describes the work as senior underwriting in the E&S property insurance sector for Munich Re's specialty insurance division. Program Manager at BlueSkyRisk since July 2026.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's line to your question, since E&S property, primary casualty and excess casualty are underwritten differently. Also decide whether you need a hands-on underwriter's view of individual accounts or a leader's view of a whole E&S book or division.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What makes a risk a fit for the E&S market rather than the admitted market, and how does that change your underwriting approach?
- 02How do you work with wholesale brokers on submissions, and what separates a good submission from a weak one?
- 03How do you adjust terms, pricing and coverage forms when a class of E&S business starts to perform poorly?
Reaching excess and surplus lines underwriting experts
How can I contact one of these excess and surplus lines underwriting experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 9 companies, including Coaction Global, Zurich North America and Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, based on profile data retrieved on October 4, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach excess and surplus lines underwriting experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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