BHSI opens Milan office, names Leonardo Castrichino to lead Italian operations

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has expanded its European footprint with the opening of a new office in Milan and the appointment of Leonardo Castrichino (pictured above) as country manager for Italy.

The move is part of the company's broader strategy to grow its presence across key European markets, which earlier this year included its formal entry into the Spanish surety market with the appointment of Jesús Barbero as head of surety.

The Milan office will serve as a hub for BHSI’s operations in Italy, where the company is offering a range of property, casualty, and executive & professional lines products, including global multinational program capabilities.

Leonardo Castrichino will lead the company’s efforts in Italy, bringing nearly 30 years of experience in the European insurance market. Prior to joining BHSI, he held numerous leadership roles in the industry, most recently serving as chief operating officer for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region at another global insurer.

Alessandro Cerase, head of Europe at BHSI, noted that since the company began expanding into Europe in 2016, its focus has been on long-term, sustainable growth.

“We are pleased to now expand into Italy with Leo leading our business, building a team with exceptional talent, and bringing the BHSI brand, balance sheet, and service to the marketplace,” Cerase said.

In addition to Castrichino’s appointment, BHSI has also named several key leaders to its Milan team:

• Marco Vantellino will serve as head of executive & professional lines, joining BHSI with 20 years of experience in the field. He was previously head of financial lines for the Mediterranean region at another global insurer.
• Thomas Tasso has been appointed head of property - energy and construction. With nearly two decades of underwriting experience in property and engineered risks across Europe, he was most recently head of property for the Mediterranean region at a different global insurer.
• Nicoló Mussi will lead commercial and financial institutions for executive & professional lines. With over 10 years of experience, Mussi’s focus will be on building BHSI’s directors & officers liability and financial institutions business in Italy. He was previously senior underwriter & financial institutions practice leader at another insurer.
• Chiara Baldissara, who joined BHSI in 2017 as an underwriting technician in London, has been named operations manager and will relocate to Milan for her new role.

BHSI said that its expansion into Italy and Spain underscores its commitment to growing its presence in key European markets, supported by experienced leadership and a strong focus on providing comprehensive insurance solutions tailored to local market needs.

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