OREANDA-NEWS. Beazley, a leading provider of specialist environmental liability insurance, has appointed Chris Biddle as an environmental liability underwriter. This appointment is the latest in a series of recent senior hires by Beazley's environmental team, expanding their underwriting and claims capabilities throughout the US. Mr Biddle will be based in Beazley's Philadelphia office.

Beazley covers a wide range of environmental risks including ongoing fixed site operations, contractor's pollution liability and brownfield site remediation. Beazley underwrites risks ranging in size from single-site habitational, commercial and retail locations to scheduled portfolios of industrial, treatment, storage and disposal facilities and petroleum bulk storage facilities, with limits of up to $25,000,000. Key target industry sectors include manufacturing, industrial, real estate, hospitals and schools.

In addition to its fixed site policy, Beazley also provides operational coverage to businesses that may face claims for polluting the premises of third parties, as well as professional liability coverage for environmental consultants.

Mr Biddle joins Beazley from XL Catlin where he worked for almost 20 years, most recently serving as West Regional Manager building a profitable book of environmental liability business. Prior to that, he worked as an environmental consultant. The Beazley environmental team is over 20 strong across the US, with local underwriting and claims contacts in every region.

Nathaniel Martin also recently joined Beazley's environmental team and is based in New York. Mr Martin most recently managed a $42 million book of business for AIG as VP and Regional Manager, Environmental Division in their New York office.

Other new senior hires on Beazley's environmental team over the past few months include:

  • Courtney Salinas, formerly with AIG, and based in Houston
  • Miles Foxworth, formerly with Ironshore, and based in Chicago

"Beazley continues to build out our environmental capabilities with experienced underwriters and support staff in the key insurance hubs across the United States," said Jayne Cunningham, Beazley's environmental focus group leader. "Our talented team can quickly address client needs and offer superior service to our broker partners to meet the strong growth we're seeing in the marketplace."