Rokstone launches new unit poaching Westfield senior underwriters

Speciality re/insurance  MGA Rokstone has launched a new specialist farm and ranch division in the US with the hiring of two senior underwriters from  Westfield.

The new Ohio-based unit will sit within the company's US specialist agriculture division Rokstone Agriculture Risk Underwriters. It will offer online quote and bind farm owners insurance, with property, liability and motor combined.

Cover will initially be on a fully admitted basis across 12 states, with plans to expand nationwide, and to add further specialist products to the online farm and ranch portfolio. The division expects to reach $35 million GWP in five years.

Joshua Lauth (Pictured Left) has been appointed president, and Michael Theibert (Pictured Right) has been appointed senior vice president of Rokstone Agriculture Farm and Ranch.

Lauth was previously agribusiness region leader at Westfield, where he held various sales, underwriting and leadership roles designed to expand the company’s farm and agribusiness market presence.

Theibert was latterly small business territory leader at Westfield and before that held a number of roles at the carrier focused on agency automation within farm, small business, and personal lines, and middle market field underwriting. Both had been with the carrier Westfield for nearly 20 years.

Lauth said: “There have been increasing levels of automation in other areas of the US market, but often seen as a niche Specialty area, Farm and Agriculture remains undeveloped and under serviced. We are changing this with the launch of Rokstone Agriculture’s Farm & Ranch division.  We are combining market leading underwriting expertise with award winning online quote and bind experience for straight through processing, backed by the firepower and significant investment of the global MGA Rokstone.  I am hugely excited to have the unique opportunity to be part of an organization embracing change, promoting an entrepreneurial spirit, and driving innovation through people, process, and technology.”

Tony Lawrence, chief digital distribution officer for Aventum, commented: “We’re delighted to welcome Josh and Michael to Rokstone. Agriculture in the US is a very diverse sector. We launched Rokstone Agriculture earlier this year, specialising in livestock risks, and they have had enormous success in just a few months. With the addition of this complementary team we’re building a true and broad agriculture enterprise. For distribution partners in the US, Rokstone will be a one stop shop for Specialty Agricultural risks with a fast and efficient service.”

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