The Hartford has chosen a former Allied World and Starr Companies executive to lead its Navigators wholesale specialty insurance business.

Michael Garrison will lead the strategic direction, growth, and underwriting for the business, as well as manage relationships with the company’s wholesale distribution partners. He will report to Adrien Robinson, The Hartford’s head of Global Specialty, starting on November 1.

Garrison, a 28-year insurance industry veteran, was most recently president, head of Global Construction and International First-Party Lines at Allied World. Before that he was president, Asia Pacific for the company and based in Singapore, where he was responsible for the strategic leadership of the company’s global markets insurance operations in Asia-Pacific. He also oversaw the implementation of the region’s strategic plan and was responsible for the oversight of the company’s direct insurance offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia.

Previously, Garrison also served as senior vice president and chief underwriting officer at Starr Companies where he created and developed first-party underwriting platforms for International Onshore Energy, Global Construction, Global Exploration & Production, and International General Property. In addition, he managed strategic planning and development and coordinated local compliance, operations, and systems for Starr’s new country start-ups. He also managed all lines of underwriting authority and aggregates for Starr’s Bermuda company, its subsidiaries, and branches.

Garrison brings a broad range of business insights in global risk, having worked in New York, Singapore, Hong Kong, London, Bermuda, and Paris, The Hartford said in its announcement.

Robinson said in prepared remarks that Garrison’s deep knowledge and extensive expertise in a broad range of specialty lines, both domestic and internationally, will be a tremendous asset” as The Hartford/Navigators continues to grow its wholesale franchise.

The Hartford acquired Navigators Group in 2019 for $2.1 billion, adding to its portfolio a specialty insurance holding company specializing in maritime, construction, energy, environmental, professional services and life sciences. The Navigators business, along with The Hartford’s pre-M&A Specialty Commercial and Middle Market businesses, were aligned around two new market-facing businesses: Global Specialty and Middle & Large Commercial.

Source: The Hartford