W. R. Berkley Corporation has formed Berkley Meridian, a new specialty insurance business combining Verus Specialty Insurance and Vela Insurance Services. Marlo M. Morrison will serve as president of the new entity. The business will unite underwriting capabilities and expertise across construction, professional liability, garage, casualty, and other specialty lines, focusing on the excess and surplus wholesale broker market. Integration has begun and is expected to continue into early 2027. Morrison joined Verus Specialty Insurance as president in 2019, bringing nearly 30 years of property and casualty insurance experience. W. Robert Berkley, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of W. R. Berkley Corporation, said the combination will allow the company to leverage expertise and provide a broader suite of solutions. Founded in 1967, W. R. Berkley Corporation is among the largest commercial lines writers in the United States.

Robert R. Coyne, Jr. to succeed Daniel R. Westcott as President of Berkley Re America. 28th July 2026 - Author: Saumya Jain - Insurance holding company W. R. Berkley Corporation has appointed Daniel R. Westcott as Executive Vice President (EVP), as Robert R. Coyne Jr. succeeds him as President of Berkley Re America, while Robert C. Hewitt has been named Chairman of Berkley Re. All appointments are effective immediately. Berkley Re is a global reinsurer comprising Berkley Re America, Berkley Re UK, Berkley Re Solutions, Berkley Re Australia, and Berkley Re Asia. Westcott joined Berkley Re America as president in 2019, and has nearly three decades of experience in the property casualty reinsurance market. Coyne joined Berkley in 2006 and became Senior Vice President of Berkley Re America in 2010. He also has over three decades of experience in the property casualty reinsurance business. Hewitt joined Berkley in 2002 as Senior Vice President for risk management and was named EVP of the firm in 2016. W. Robert Berkley, Jr., Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of W. R. Berkley Corporation, commented on the appointments, "Rob, Dan, and Rob have all provided outstanding leadership within Berkley for many years. Dan's skills and broad experience in the reinsurance market, as well as his extensive knowledge of its organisation, will serve Reinsurance Group well as he takes on oversight of its assumed reinsurance businesses. "With deep expertise in developing reinsurance solutions for customers, Rob Coyne is very well-positioned to lead Berkley Re America forward to build upon its success. Rob Hewitt has made extraordinary contributions to Berkley during his tenure, and we are deeply appreciative of his leadership, judgment, and unwavering commitment to the Company." He continued, "He has been a trusted colleague and valued leader, and we are especially pleased, both personally and professionally, that we will continue to benefit from his extensive experience and expertise." Last week, for its second quarter 2026 results, W. R. Berkley reported a new record for gross written premiums (GWP) of $4.1 billion.

W. R. Berkley Corporation has appointed Christopher L. Moede as president of Berkley Risk, effective immediately. He succeeds John Goodwin, who has been named chairman of the business. Moede brings over 20 years of leadership experience in the commercial insurance market. Most recently, he led a global underwriting segment at a major multinational insurer. Goodwin joined Berkley Risk in 2012, serving as executive vice president before becoming president in 2014. W. Robert Berkley, Jr., chief executive officer of W. R. Berkley Corporation, welcomed Moede's leadership skills and experience in developing risk solutions. He thanked Goodwin for his exceptional service and contributions. Berkley Risk provides at-risk and alternative risk insurance programme management services for public entity pools, professional associations, and self-insured clients.