July 2021
A Message from Joe Connelly, South Central Zone President, North America General Insurance

Summer is finally here – and with it, many new opportunities to help you solve your insurance needs.

This issue of The South Central AIGConnection highlight a product area where AIG work together to provide client solutions: Excess Casualty. This is a product where AIG has been a market leader.

As part of our experience and leadership, we have unmatched data and intelligence that helped us recognize early on issues and trends many others are only now addressing. Now, we have a clear and robust appetite across all of these lines and can help you keep on top of emerging risks and claims trends.

In this issue, we also spotlight and celebrate some of our recent successes in the zone. You will also learn of organizational updates and more about our product solutions.

We look forward to our continued engagement – updating you with regular communications like The South Central AIGConnection and – yes – getting together in person where and when it is appropriate to illustrate our commitment to you and strengthen our partnership.

Here’s to great days and we look forward to continuing to engage with you so we can provide solutions to your risks.

Best regards,
South Central Zone President
North America General Insurance
Ahead of the Curve: AIG Excess Casualty Moving Forward with Stable, Bespoke Capacity
To learn more, visit www.aig.com/whyaig-excess-casualty or contact your local Excess Casualty underwriting manager:
National and Corporate Accounts: East
Muffadal Lokhandwala
National and Corporate Accounts: West
Ryan Morris
AIG is looking to the future with a robust appetite to grow lead umbrella and mid- and high-excess placements across a broad range of industries – with capacity easily integrated and coordinated across AIG’s U.S., London and Bermuda platforms.  
 
“With our experience in the excess casualty market, we have unmatched data and intelligence to draw from to help our clients keep on top of emerging risks and claim trends,” says Michael Kirchgessner, Head of North America Excess Casualty at AIG. “This deep intelligence gave us the foresight to make necessary portfolio adjustments early on, ahead of the curve of the market cycle. Those adjustments are behind us, and we are now in growth mode in all of our areas including lead umbrella, excess casualty etc.”
 
Excess Casualty has up to $75 million in total capacity available on an individual account basis – and market-leading risk control capabilities that enable us to really understand unique and complex exposures and craft bespoke solutions. “Our risk control expertise is also why clients can be confident we can write their risk today and adapt coverage as their operations evolve and expand,” Michael adds.
 
In today’s volatile and evolving litigation environment, AIG also stands out for its proven abilities to handle intricate and challenging excess casualty claims. “By adapting our approach as needed to the current environment and leveraging our knowledge of specific venues and jurisdictions, we can help achieve the best possible outcomes for clients,” Michael says.
 
While AIG is well known for handling the most complex excess casualty accounts, we also deliver the same deep claims expertise and experience to smaller companies and their brokers with fast and easy access to coverage through the online quoting and binding of policies in AIG e-Excess.
 
“At AIG Excess Casualty, we stand ready to support clients’ risk throughout the tower of excess casualty limits, whether that is a standard lead or excess policy or the need for creative structures or customized coverage solutions,” Michael notes.
South Central Success Stories
Early Communication and Competitive Terms = Winning Duo
This energy industry insured was a new client to our broker partner, but luckily AIG had a history with the client and understood some of the challenges and risks the client was facing. AIG communicated early that we believed we were a perfect fit for the client’s Side-A D&O program and targeted a $5mm x $15mm attachment point. Our underwriting team quickly put together competitive terms, communicating closely with the broker along the way so that they could clearly articulate the benefits of working with AIG to the client. Impressed by the presentation, the client bound this program with AIG.  
Creative and Competent on Multiline Quote
Extraordinary communication, collaboration and tenacity produced this major multiline deal with a privately-owned energy company in the South Central Zone. AIG’s constant communication from submission to binder, in addition to offering a wide variety of structures and pricing options, meant that we delivered solutions for the client and broker with creativity and competence. The client was also drawn to the cost savings they gained by moving from two small regional carriers and taking large new deductible positions with AIGRM®.
Responding Across the Globe
When this food and beverage company was looking to expand to Asia, the broker sought options to the incumbent carrier that could better handle the requirements and process of placing local policies and build out a program for the growing insured. Their first call was to AIG and the WorldRisk® team in the South Central Zone. Two months later, the insured had a package deal – including casualty, property and travel accident and sickness coverage -- that enabled them to meet their statutory and contractual requirements abroad – and cancel the incumbent mid-term. 
AIG Writes Property for Client With Unique Risk
A healthcare client with a unique exposure sought property coverage from AIG. AIG’s South Central Zone demonstrated a clear interest in writing this client’s program. Following a technical call with the insured regarding property and equipment breakdown, AIG was confident that the client had its hazards well under control. This confidence in the client paved the way for AIG to develop a single-carrier offering for the client’s Property program and helped launch the start to a new long-term relationship.
Houston ERG Diversity Council Hosts Walking in Allyship Series
During the first week of June, the Houston ERG Diversity Council conducted the first Walking in Allyship Series virtual event featuring Mark Peterson and Shawn Dromgoole. Shawn, a resident of Nashville, Tennessee, is the founder of the movement #WeWalkWithShawn which promotes community togetherness by encouraging people from different dimensions of diversity to come and walk through their neighborhood in solidarity for one another. Having orchestrated 38 walks in total across five different states, Shawn inspires those involved to show up and be an active neighbor because, as Shawn says, “When people feel seen, they feel safe”. The inaugural event marks the beginning of the quarterly Walk in Allyship Series that will feature stories of people with diverse backgrounds, promoting unity and understanding through listening. The Houston ERG Diversity Council says that they are committed to lifting the unique stories and voices of our employees. Further, Walking in Allyship was designed to share different perspectives of our colleagues and local organizations in the Houston area in hopes of building bridges across all dimensions of diversity. 
South Central Zone Organizational Appointments
Senior Underwriter, Casualty, Lexington

After graduating from Texas Christian University, Reed worked for a manufacturer/service contractor in the offshore drilling sector for about four years. Then, he circled back for an MBA from The University of Houston and started working for McGriff as a producer in their Energy and Marine department.  Now, he holds a new role as senior underwriter for Lexington Casualty in our South Central Zone. In this position, he manages Lexington’s relationship with a handful of wholesalers and a few of our designated retailers.
Claims Account Manager

As a Claims Account Manager, Kerri facilitates the reduction of process barriers, technology constraints, or resource constraints by directing and influencing the activities of other internal departments such as information technology, operations and business development. Kerri’s responsibilities also include broadening claims relationships with brokers and customers within her region and improving accountability for claim service to both internal and external business partners. Kerri began her insurance career in 2002 and has held various adjuster positions with a focus in commercial litigation. In 2015, Kerri joined AIG serving as a Complex Claim Director in Technical TPA Oversight.
Underwriting Professional Associate, Lexington

Kenza Lepry is an underwriting professional associate for LexPro—the management liability team of Lexington. Kenza started her career in insurance last year as an AIG intern then joined the team full time this past February. Specifically, she is now focusing on directors and officers liability coverage. 
Senior Underwriter, Marine and Upstream Energy, Validus

David Calderon is a senior underwriter for Validus Specialty with over 10 years of experience working alongside insureds, brokers and underwriting professionals. He will be underwriting Excess Liability for marine and upstream insureds on behalf of Validus. David has a wide perspective on the insurance industry, having started his career handling claims for Liberty Mutual. His most recent role with Lockton Companies was as an AVP, Account Executive (broker) where he diagnosed exposures, strategized with clients and structured programs on their behalf. David’s experience includes consulting upstream and midstream clientele of various sizes, placing OEE/Wind, Property and Casualty coverages across domestic and international markets. 
Underwriter, Retail Property

Glen is a part of the South Central Retail Property Team, where he manages and grows a book of business for global property with the use of broker engagement, risk mitigation and loss prevention. He initially started out as a Field Engineer within Commercial Property & Casualty, and through time, was able to develop core technical skills and a deep understanding of risk exposures within the insurance industry. Combining his technical skills with underwriting experience, he strives to bring expertise and knowledge and deliver powerful outcomes for our clients. 
Regional Production Specialist, Retail Property

Vivian joined AIG in April of 2021 as a Regional Production Specialist for the South Central Retail Property group located in Houston, TX. She began her career at Aon Houston as an energy property broker in 2012. After four years at Aon, she moved to the carrier side. Vivian worked at Swiss Re as an energy underwriter for two years and Starr Companies on the middle-market general property group for three years. 
Underwriting Analyst, Power Generation and Utilities

Gina is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a BS in Business Administration. She started with AIG this past March working in Energy’s South Zone and is based in Houston, TX. She is the Underwriting Analyst on the Power Generation and Utilities team and assists the underwriters in all processes, but mainly supports booking, invoicing and policy issuance.
Senior Regional Production Specialist

Whitney Blocker has joined the Oil & Petrochemicals (O&P) Energy group in Houston as Senior Regional Production Specialist. Prior to joining AIG, she was a Senior Underwriter with Starr Companies in the Construction Property group. She has ten years of Onshore Energy underwriting experience at Navigators Management Company focusing on Refining, Petrochemical, Chemical and Midstream business.
AIG General Insurance Organizational Updates
Global Head of Multinational Financial Lines
 
Jeanmarie has been named Global Head of Multinational Financial Lines. In this role, she will lead the development and execution of AIG's multinational strategy for global financial lines. She also will be responsible for portfolio management and underwriting quality, as well as executing complex multinational programs across a range of products and geographies. For the past 12 years, Jeanmarie has been instrumental in defining AIG's underwriting strategies and product innovation for Professional Liability, as Head of Professional Liability for North America Financial Lines. Before that, she was Chief Underwriting Officer for Professional Liability and held other senior underwriting roles at Catlin Group and CNA.
Head of Underwriting, North America Retail Property
 
Mark Maritzen has been promoted Head of Underwriting for North America Retail Property. In this role, Mark will continue to drive the profitability of Retail Property’s risk management and middle market portfolios, delivering differentiated value to retail property brokers and their clients. He will also have expanded responsibility for all Zonal Retail Property Underwriting Executives moving forward. Mark has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry; before joining AIG in 2019, Mark held roles of increasing responsibility as an underwriter, reinsurer and broker at Sompo International, Tokio Marine Global, Guy Carpenter, Marsh and Gerling Insurance. 
Strategic Business Leader, AIGRM®
 
Trevor Gallagher has been named Strategic Business Leader for AIG Risk Management (AIGRM®). He will be responsible for AIGRM’s Specialty Portfolio, which comprises Transportation, Professional Employment Organizations, Construction and Closeouts/Structured Programs. Trevor will coordinate activities within actuarial, finance, underwriting and operations, and develop strategies to develop solutions. He has more than 21 years of experience with AIG.
 
Strategic Business Leader, AIGRM®
 
David Zelickman has been named Strategic Business Leader for AIG Risk Management (AIGRM). He will be responsible for AIGRM’s Core Portfolio, which consists of all other industry group and product designs not part of the Specialty Portfolio. David will lead AIGRM U.S. Field Operations to drive consistency in underwriting, service and market-facing activities across all zones. All Casualty zonal leaders will now report to David, with a matrix reporting relationship to Trevor Gallagher for Specialty Portfolio products. David, who has more than 30 years of experience, joined AIGRM in 2018 after a career at Chubb.
 
Head of Terrorism and Political Violence Risk
 
AIG has named Edward Atkin as Head of Terrorism and Political Violence Risk for our Global Center of Excellence (COE) Lloyd’s of London syndicate 1183 managed by Talbot Underwriting Ltd. Edward brings to the role 12 years of experience in this highly specialized market. Previously, he was Senior Class Underwriter for War and Terrorism on Syndicate 1183 and before that held other underwriting roles at Talbot. He and his team joined AIG through the 2018 acquisition of Talbot.
 
 
Head of LexPro
 
Julia has been named Head of LexPro, an appointment that marks Lexington's entry into wholesale-only distribution of management liability for small/medium -sized enterprises (SMEs). LexPro is an extension of Lexington's commitment to align resources, risk appetite and distribution strategies to meet the needs of the evolving excess and surplus lines market. Julia has more than 15 years of experience in underwriting excellence and client service. At LexPro, she leads a team of dedicated underwriters providing SME accounts with annual revenues below $150 million with products including employment practices liability, fiduciary and crime insurance through wholesale brokers. And prior to that was Vice President and U.S. Head of Commercial D&O at Validus Specialty and before that was Vice President in the Management Solutions Group at Zurich North America.
Wholesale Distribution Leader, North America General Insurance
 
Ella has been appointed as Wholesale Distribution Leader for North America General Insurance. In this new role, she will work closely with wholesale brokers to deliver differentiated value for AIG's Commercial Insurance business and partner with business unit leaders across Retail, Lexington, Glatfelter, AIG Programs and Captive Solutions. She will play an important role in strengthening relationships and maximizing AIG's franchise value to improve retention and drive growth. Ella joined AIG in 2020 as National Director of Business Development for Lexington Insurance. Previously, she held executive positions at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions as Senior Vice President overseeing distribution management and sales for Swiss Re's excess and surplus lines business.
 
Chief Operating Officer, General Insurance Claims
 
David has been appointed to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer of General Insurance Claims, based in London. In this role, he is responsible for establishing a globally consistent strategy for delivering claims services and operations. He will oversee the claims performance and claims administration teams. David returned to AIG in 2020 as Chief Claims Officer, International General Insurance. He has more than 25 years' experience, including international claims roles at AXA XL and earlier in his career at AIG and Royal & Sun Alliance.
AIG has also made several appointments to its North America Financial Lines leadership, as part of new operating structure designed to enhance AIG's value to clients and broker partners.
Your AIG Team
Our local zones are the cornerstone of how we deliver our products and services to our brokers and clients. The Zone Presidents and their teams are here to assist you and welcome your inquiries. 
Please feel free to share this newsletter within your organization.
American International Group, Inc. (AIG) is a leading global insurance organization. AIG member companies provide a wide range of property casualty insurance, life insurance, retirement solutions, and other financial services to customers in more than 80 countries and jurisdictions. These diverse offerings include products and services that help businesses and individuals protect their assets, manage risks and provide for retirement security. AIG common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Additional information about AIG can be found at www.aig.com | YouTube: www.youtube.com/aig  | Twitter: @AIGinsurance https://twitter.com/AIGinsurance | LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/aig.

AIG is the marketing name for the worldwide property-casualty, life and retirement, and general insurance operations of American International Group, Inc. For additional information, please visit our website at www.aig.com. All products and services are written or provided by subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group, Inc. Products or services may not be available in all countries, and coverage is subject to actual policy language. Non-insurance products and services may be provided by independent third parties. Certain property-casualty coverages may be provided by a surplus lines insurer. Surplus lines insurers do not generally participate in state guaranty funds, and insureds are therefore not protected by such funds.

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