Ryan Specialty elevates property & casualty leaders with ‘exponential’ growth

International specialty insurance firm  Ryan Specialty Holdings has appointed new leaders within its wholesale brokerage business on the back of “exponential” growth in its property and casualty practices.

Brenda (Ballard) Austenfeld and Chris Houska have been promoted to CEO and president of their respective RT Specialty practices.

Austenfeld will take the helm of the company's national property practice. She joined RT Specialty in 2013 with the acquisition of Westrope, where she was a partner with the firm. As president, Austenfeld has been instrumental in expanding RT Specialty's property practice.

Houska, who has over 30 years of casualty insurance experience, joined RT Specialty as part of the original founding group in 2010 and since then has been a key figure in its growth. He will become CEO and president of RT Specialty’s national casualty practice.

Tim Turner, chairman and CEO of RT Specialty and president of Ryan Specialty, said: “Under Brenda’s executive guidance, RT Specialty’s Property practice has grown exponentially and has become well-known for its ability to creatively and effectively handle specialized and catastrophic property exposures.”

He added: “I have worked with Chris for many years and have admired his deep relationships throughout the industry as well as his business acumen. Chris has been instrumental to RT Specialty in cultivating acquisitions and growing our Casualty Practice. He is very deserving of this promotion.”

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