Applied Underwriters has announced two senior leadership appointments to support ongoing growth within its United Risk group.
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Alex Amezquita (pictured above, left) has been named chief financial officer, taking over from Jay Cahill (pictured above, right), who will lead a newly created reinsurance division as its chief executive officer.
The appointments are effective immediately. In his new role, Amezquita will oversee financial operations across United Risk’s insurance, surety, and specialty business divisions.
Amezquita previously served as CFO at Herbalife, and held senior roles at Moelis & Company and Centerview Partners.
Cahill will begin organizing the company’s new multi-line reinsurance managing general agent (MGA), which aims to serve brokers, cedents, and other clients in property, casualty, cyber, and credit risk segments.
Cahill, who was previously CFO at United Risk, said he is focused on building out the reinsurance business to meet broker and client needs in a challenging market, noting that the firm’s resources and talent pool will help deliver a competitive advantage.
Before joining United Risk, Cahill was managing director at Awbury from 2021 to 2024, overseeing ceded reinsurance, third-party capital, specialty and professional lines, property retro underwriting, and new business development. He also served as global head of credit and financial lines at RenaissanceRe.
The division plans to underwrite select placements for June, July, and October 2025 renewals and will establish fully operational offices in New York, London, and Bermuda by Jan. 1, 2026.
According to Applied Underwriters President Jamie Sahara, the new appointments are part of a broader strategy to support growth across United Risk’s portfolio. Sahara also said Cahill adds further strength to the firm’s underwriting operations, which currently include 28 programs.
United Risk was formed by consolidating Applied Underwriters' MGA and MGU businesses into a unified platform. The division operates independently, with its home office at 50 Rockefeller Plaza in New York, and maintains operational ties to Applied Underwriters, headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.
March last year also saw the establishment of Applied Credit Underwriters, a division which focuses on structured credit, contract frustration, and political risk insurance. Bernie de Haldevang, with over 30 years in the sector, was appointed CEO.
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