Specialist insurer Beazley has hired Cal Spessard to head the team responsible for handling claims arising from the company’s fast growing environmental liability business.
Mr. Spessard joins Beazley from environmental risk management specialists WCD Group, where he served as director, claims and litigation services. Prior to joining WCD in 2016, he held a series of senior claims roles at AIG. At Beazley, he succeeds Larry Griffin, who has been promoted to head the claims team responsible for Beazley’s professions business, which, in addition to environmental liability, includes professional liability for architects and engineers and for lawyers.
Environmental liability has been a major growth area for Beazley in recent years, accounting for more than $100 million in premiums in 2018. Environmental risks threaten a wide variety of commercial organizations, including property owners; industrial and commercial operations; general and specialty contractors; and the environmental services industry. These risks give rise to complex claims and benefit from strong risk management and claims support.
Jayne Cunningham, Beazley’s environmental focus group leader, said: “The quality of our claims service is a big reason clients and their brokers choose Beazley for environmental liability protection. Cal’s deep knowledge of pollution legal liability insurance products and practical experience resolving complex construction and environmental site remediation issues will help us deliver even better support for our insureds.”
Mr. Spessard will be based in Beazley’s New York office.