Ascot names Tracy O'Hara deputy CUO for US financial lines

She will support strategy, governance, and risk selection across the company's financial portfolio

Ascot names Tracy O'Hara deputy CUO for US financial lines

Professional Risks

By Kenneth Araullo

Ascot has appointed Tracy O’Hara (pictured above) to the newly established role of deputy chief underwriting officer for US financial and professional lines. She will report to Jesse Paulson, chief underwriting officer for Ascot US. 

In her new position, O’Hara will work alongside business unit leaders to support underwriting strategy, governance, and risk selection across the company’s financial lines portfolio. The role is designed to contribute to the execution of underwriting initiatives aimed at supporting profitability and aligning with the company’s broader operational framework. 

O’Hara joined Ascot in 2019 as senior vice president, cyber and professional liability. She played a central role in developing the company’s cyber, errors and omissions, and media liability offerings. Her work contributed to the launch of AscotPRO, the company’s cyber and professional liability platform in the United States. 

Before joining Ascot, O’Hara held the role of vice president and E&O underwriting manager at Axis. Her prior experience also includes more than 16 years with Chubb, where she held several underwriting leadership positions in the professional and management liability segments. 

Paulson said the appointment reflects the company’s continued attention to underwriting and operational focus across Ascot US. 

“She brings to the role both a deep technical understanding of Ascot’s product suite as well as vast experience and specialized expertise across the landscape of professional liability, management liability and cyber,” Paulson said. 

In recent months, Ascot has expanded its management liability portfolio under the AscotEXEC brand, which includes coverage solutions for public, private, and not-for-profit organizations. 

As part of the brand rollout, Ascot introduced primary public directors and officers coverage, as well as standalone offerings for employment practices liability and fiduciary liability. 

(AC) Ascot has also made leadership moves to reinforce underwriting performance across its broader specialty lines business. The company recently made key executive appointments to enhance operations in its US marine division and other targeted specialty lines. 

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