Zurich North America is expanding its US middle market business to reach additional regions in the country. The expansion builds on four consecutive years of double-digit growth in its core property and casualty middle market business.
The company plans to add more than 100 underwriting roles focused on the midsize segment, with hiring already underway and across all US regions.
“Middle market businesses are a growing force in the US economy, and they aren’t concentrated in just a handful of the largest cities,” said Alex Wells Head of US Middle Market for Zurich North America.
Last year, data showed that middle market businesses have continued to experience significant growth despite challenges from inflation, cybersecurity threats, natural disasters and insurance coverage deficiencies.
“Investing in this next expansion is the latest way we're executing on our principles. We take pride in helping midsize businesses protect their people and assets as they build on their own momentum and act on opportunities,” Wells added.
The company’s middle market business operates through industry verticals, providing property, casualty, financial lines and specialties coverages tailored to the needs of midsize businesses. These solutions include insurance and risk engineering services for businesses in construction, technology, manufacturing, life sciences, financial and professional services and other sectors.
To support its latest initiative, the company said it has created the role of head of onboarding and developments for middle market, with Lisa Diers being appointed to the position.
Diers has been with the company for 28 years and has experience in technical underwriting, field underwriting management, referral underwriting, as well as product and system development. She previously served as middle market head of underwriting quality and compliance, where she led enhancements to the business’ trainee program.
Zurich Middle Market introduced many solutions aimed at simplifying risk management, including an admitted primary products liability policy for life sciences companies, as well as My Zurich Broker Concierge, which offers brokers access to loss runs and transaction status.
The business unit has also implemented Smart Renewals, which allows many accounts to be renewed without a full re-underwriting process.
Zurich Resilience Solutions, which provides risk engineering and business resilience services, is also adding risk engineer positions to support middle market businesses that may not have in-house risk management teams, the company said.
