GuideOne takes Spain from The Hartford’s Navigators

Expansive US mutual insurer GuideOne National has appointed Nigel Spain from The Hartford’s Navigators Insurance operation as head of global technical property, The Insurer can reveal.

According to sources the executive officially began in his new role today.

They added that Spain will be tasked with leading GuideOne’s commercial property team in the wholesale surplus lines space and will report to the insurer’s senior vice president of specialty Mark Groenheide.

At Navigators he was most recently underwriting director for the carrier’s special property division, leading a team of underwriters focusing on surplus lines commercial business.

He came over with The Hartford’s 2016 acquisition of E&S specialist carrier Maxum Specialty for $168mn. Maxum Specialty was effectively rolled into Navigators after The Hartford bought the carrier last year for $2.1bn in cash.

Spain has more than three decades of experience in the sector, including roles at Argo’s Colony Insurance, and Maiden Specialty. He began his career in the Lloyd’s market.

As previously reported, GuideOne has made ambitious moves in the property sector including selectively supporting large accounts for Fortune 500 companies.

It moved into that segment with the hiring of former HDI Global executive Groenheide last October.

In the large property arena it is thought that GuideOne works exclusively with wholesale broker RT Specialty.

Typically it will put down a relatively small net line on a cover that is then grossed up with facultative reinsurance to a more meaningful size.

The Insurer revealed last month that the insurer had taken a 10 percent quota share participation on Walmart’s $800mn property placement.

From its origins as a specialist church insurer, GuideOne has been diversifying its business under new management led by former State Auto, Rockhill and Citizens executive Jessica Snyder.

It has also been aiming to turnaround its performance and last year reported a net profit after three years of losses as well as a sub-100 combined ratio.