Hanover hires president of excess and surplus

Photo | Courtesy The Hanover Insurance Group Kate Williams has been appointed president of excess and surplus at The Hanover Insurance Group in Worcester.

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By Timothy Doyle

Worcester-based The Hanover Insurance Group has appointed Kate Williams to the role of president of excess and surplus.

Williams joins the company from Markel Corp., which is headquartered in Virginia and where she spent 12 years, most recently as managing director and product line leader of Markel's primary casualty portfolio, according to a Monday press release from Hanover.

"We've built a strong E&S practice that uniquely positions our distribution partners for success in the growing surplus lines space. Our dedicated underwriters, with specialized E&S and line of business-specific expertise, know the risks they cover inside and out, and understand the unique needs and challenges of their target market,” Bryan Salvatore, president of specialty at Hanover, said in the press release. “Given her extensive experience and perspective, Kate will work with the team to continue to build on its momentum, helping its partners drive critical growth and serving its clients' best interests more effectively."

Williams has 21 years of experience, having served in a variety of underwriting and producer roles at Virginia-based James River Insurance Co., Chas. Lunsford Sons & Associates, also of Virginia, and Colony Insurance Co., now a subsidiary of Bermuda-based Argo Group.

The Hanover position was previously held by Steve Mills, who in June joined Boston firm Ledgebrook as its president of excess and surplus, according to a June press release from Ledgebrook.

Excess and surplus insurance is a specialty market dealing with businesses who experience high risk or have a poor-loss history.