Ryan Specialty energises renewable MGU with new leadership

Ryan Specialty Holdings has appointed new leaders to steer its renewable energy MGU managing general underwriter (MGU), Power.Energy.Risk (PERse), in North America.

Katie Davies has been named new CEO, and Jeff Smith president and chief underwriting officer of PERse’s North American operations.

Mike Bernay, the preceding CEO of PERse, will serve as a senior advisor to the business for the next 100 days as he moves into retirement. Bernay was a founder of PERse in 2011.

Davies, who has expertise in underwriting heavily engineered and cat-exposed risks, will continue as CEO of JEM Underwriting Managers and Technical Risk Underwriters while also taking on her new role. Her career began in broking power industry risks in London and New York before transitioning to property underwriting.

Jeff Smith, a founding member of PERse with an extensive career in the renewables MGU sector, is taking on the role of president while continuing to serve as CUO. Smith played a crucial role in PERse's launch and expansion, leading the company in underwriting, engineering, and claims management.

Miles Wuller, CEO and president of Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers, said: “Congratulations to Mike for such an exceptional career in the renewables space and for launching the PERse brand for Ryan Specialty 12+ years ago. We, his Ryan colleagues and friends, wish him all the best. In this leadership transition, I am excited to see Katie share her expertise and existing platform resources in capital management, loss control, and engineering to PERse. Moreover, this is a great recognition of Jeff’s exceptional contribution to building and leading PERse.”

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