Specialty brokerage raids Marsh as it seeks to 'disrupt' insurance industry

US-based specialty insurance brokerage C3 Risk & Insurance Services has established new construction and surety divisions with the hiring of four insurance industry veterans from  Marsh & McLennan Agency. The company is on a mission to shake up the insurance industry through business relationships.

Paul Heidemann (pictured) joins as managing director of the construction practice group, Rich Hallett as director of surety, Teri Porlas as client consultant executive, and Doug Shea as construction practice leader.

Heidemann joined Marsh & McLennan Agency (MMA) as a principal in 2008, and has served as the leader of its construction practice. He has more than 25 years of experience in the insurance brokerage industry, specialising in risk management and brokerage services for medium to large construction companies; environmental and remediation contractors; homebuilders and residential development.

Hallett joined MMA in 2008, where he served as director of surety in the firm’s business insurance division. Prior to joining MMA, he held leadership roles at Westfield Insurance, Acordia, and Arch Insurance Company. With over 25 years of experience obtaining surety credit for national and international contractors and developers, Hallett will be responsible for the management of C3’s contract and commercial surety practice. Over his career, he has underwritten and managed surety programs in excess of $750 million.

Porlas has over 35 years of experience working as a dedicated insurance professional providing creative and comprehensive coverage programs. Her expertise resides in the construction and real estate industries handling complex exposures for sophisticated businesses.

Shea is a commercial property and casualty insurance broker specialising in construction and real estate. He began his insurance career more than a decade ago, and his expertise includes providing risk management and brokerage services to medium to large construction companies; environmental and remediation contractors; and homebuilders and residential developers (OCIP/CCIP Programs). Shea most recently served as client executive at MMA in the Greater San Diego area.

Jamie Reid, co-founder and chairman of the board of C3, said: “The construction industry is a backbone to America. We’re confident with the addition of these four specialty insurance experts, this new division will not only have a different approach to the toughest insurance challenges, but also meet clients’ needs with sophisticated expertise and intimate knowledge of the industry.”

Gabe Erle, co-founder of C3, added: “The insurance industry has been in a box for years, and our new construction and surety divisions will continue our mission of disruption through business relationships solidified by empathetic listening, divergent thinking and unprecedented resolve.”

Did you get value from this story?  Sign up to our free daily newsletters and get stories like this sent straight to your inbox.