Tag Archives: Managing General Agent

Paragon Insurance Holdings Announces Acquisition of Reel Media, Further Expanding Firm’s Reach into Global Specialty Marketplace

AVON, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- Paragon Insurance Holdings, LLC, in its continuing bid to diversify and expand into the global specialty markets, today announces the acquisition of Reel Media, LLC, a leading provider of insurance solutions for the broader entertainment and sports industries.

"We're excited about the opportunity to partner with Reel Media and their key trading relationships," Ron Ganiats, CEO, and co-founder of Paragon, said. "Marc Idelson and his team have built the market leading MGA in the film/TV and studio niche by attracting great talent and partnering with Allianz (AGCS), the leading carrier in global entertainment markets. Moreover, by harnessing their underwriting expertise, distribution network, and carrier and reinsurance relationships, to write E&S excess casualty, shell and touring, contingency, and motorsports business, Reel Media has done a great job of diversifying their business."

Reel Media is strategically aligned with deep and longstanding carrier and reinsurance relationships that includes Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS), Munich Re, HDI Global Specialty SE and Sutton National, among others. These markets have supported Reel Media for many years and bring stability to the entertainment industry, which was validated during the loss cycle attributed to the pandemic.

"This is a great moment for Reel Media, our staff and our partners" Marc Idelson, CEO, and founder of Reel Media, said. "Paragon's business strategy and commitments to attracting and partnering with great talent, distribution, and carrier and reinsurance partners resonated with us. Their operational and analytic capabilities will also drive business efficiencies and improvements for Reel Media and deliver value to our clients and partners."

About Reel Media:

Reel Media LLC is an entertainment, film, television, sports, motorsports, and leisure Managing General Agent with offices located in California, Massachusetts, and Toronto. Reel Media offers innovative and competitive commercial insurance products representing strategic alliances with both admitted and surplus lines markets.

About Paragon:

Paragon Insurance Holdings, LLC, a Galway Holdings company formed in 2014, writes all commercial lines of insurance across more than 20 programs. Paragon's industry-specific and general underwriting facilities offer insureds, retail agents, carriers, reinsurers and service providers unique product, service, capability, and results.

Learn more: https://www.paragoninsgroup.com/.

Paragon Insurance Holdings, LLC, in its continuing bid to diversify and expand into the global specialty markets, today announces the acquisition of Reel Media, LLC, a leading provider of insurance solutions for the broader entertainment and sports industries.

Related link: https://www.paragoninsgroup.com/

Paragon Welcomes Andy Borst who Joins as President, E&S Lines and International Programs

AVON, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- Paragon Insurance Holdings LLC, a nationwide multiline specialty managing general agent (MGA), is pleased to announce the hire of Andrew "Andy" Borst as President-Excess & Surplus (E&S) Lines and International Programs.

Borst, previously the interim president of international operations at Argo Group, brings decades of broad experience in the insurance industry with roles at Travelers, OneBeacon, and most recently Argo Group. He helped establish and lead Argo's U.S. Specialty Programs business from 2014 to 2018, serving as Chief Administrative Officer. He most recently led Argo's international business back to profitability in 2021 after his assignment in London, which commenced in 2019.

Borst became familiar with the early days of Paragon in 2015 and 2017 when Argo Group sold parts of Argo's Alteris MGA to the company, including its timber and landscape programs. In his new position, Borst will play a pivotal role in building on the current growth trajectory of Paragon's E&S and international business.

"I'm excited to return to the Program space," commented Borst. "My experience and familiarity with reinsurers, carriers, underwriters and other MGAs in the specialty insurance market should allow me to add to Paragon's value proposition very quickly."

Borst will report to Paragon CEO and co-founder Ron Ganiats.

"Interacting extensively with Andy in the past, we're thrilled to add him to the team. We know the value he can bring at a time when the company is focusing on expansion both in the United States and globally," Ganiats said.

About Paragon:

Paragon, a broadly diversified MGA launched in 2014, supplies distinctive coverage alternatives and options to retail brokers, insurance carriers, reinsurers, and vendor companions. The agency, owned by Galway Holdings, writes comprehensive coverages throughout greater than 20 programs.

Visit https://www.paragoninsgroup.com/ for additional information.

Paragon Insurance Holdings LLC, a nationwide multiline specialty managing general agent (MGA), is pleased to announce the hire of Andrew "Andy" Borst as President-Excess & Surplus (E&S) Lines and International Programs.

Related link: https://www.paragoninsgroup.com/

Paragon Hires Industry Vet for East Coast Expansion

AVON, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- Paragon Insurance Holdings LLC, a nationwide multiline specialty managing general agent (MGA), is pleased to announce the hire of Patrick Carroll as senior vice president - Eastern Region, effective January 31.

"Pat will be in instrumental in helping expand our footprint, particularly on the East Coast," Paragon President Ron Mairano said. "He has deep rooted relationships in the insurance industry focusing much of that time in the workers' comp marketplace. We're all excited to have him join the team."

Carroll brings more than 38 years of property & casualty and workers' compensation experience to his role at Paragon. He has held leadership positions on both the carrier and MGA side and will be working with new and existing partners in the Eastern United States.

Carroll will report to Andrew Petersen, executive vice president.

"I'm excited to be back in the MGA space with people I have known for over 20 years and who have an incredible track record of success," Carroll said.

About Paragon:

Paragon, a broadly diversified MGA launched in 2014, supplies distinctive alternatives and options to retail brokers, insurance coverage carriers, reinsurers and vendor companions. The agency, which is owned Galway Holdings, writes all business strains of coverage throughout greater than 20 packages.

Please visit https://www.paragoninsgroup.com/ for additional information.

Paragon Insurance Holdings LLC, a nationwide multiline specialty managing general agent (MGA), is pleased to announce the hire of Patrick Carroll as senior vice president - Eastern Region, effective January 31, 2022. Carroll brings more than 38 years of property and casualty and workers' compensation experience to his role at Paragon.

Related link: https://www.paragoninsgroup.com/

Paragon Insurance Names Christian Phillips as President of Contingency Practice

AVON, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- Paragon Insurance Holdings LLC, a national multiline specialty managing general agent (MGA), has named Christian Phillips as President of its newly created Paragon Contingency Practices.

Phillips joins Paragon following many years at London-based specialty insurer, Beazley. With experience spanning three decades, he is a tremendous asset to Paragon clients, particularly given the global upheaval in the marketplace in 2020.

Phillips will play a pivotal role in this dynamic market environment, as event cancellations related to COVID-19 have severely impacted established contingency business underwriters. "As we continue through the balance of 2021, we expect to see the contingency market rebound," noted Paragon CEO and Co-founder, Ron Ganiats. "We are excited to welcome Christian to the Paragon team to help our clients navigate these improving market conditions."

The Paragon platform will enable Phillips to bring capacity and coverage solutions to a contingency insurance market that has experienced a large amount of contraction over the past 12 months. These solutions will help venues recover in the wake of losses incurred from the closure, rescheduling and cancellation of local, national and international sporting, entertainment and industry events.

About Paragon

Paragon, a broadly diversified MGA launched in 2014, provides unique opportunities and solutions to retail agents, insurance carriers, reinsurers and vendor partners. The firm writes all commercial lines of insurance across more than 20 insurance programs.

Visit https://www.paragoninsgroup.com/ for additional information.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Betsy Van Alstyne
Betsy.vanalstyne@epicgroup.com

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/21-0426s2p-Christian-Phillips-300dpi.jpg

Paragon Insurance Holdings LLC, a national multiline specialty managing general agent (MGA), has named Christian Phillips as President of its newly created Paragon Contingency Practices.

Related link: https://www.paragoninsgroup.com/

Paragon Insurance Holdings to Sell its Direct Retail Wine Industry Business

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Paragon Insurance Holdings LLC today announced the sale of the firm's direct retail wine industry business to retail insurance broker EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants. The accounts in question came to Paragon in the fall of 2017 when they purchased wine industry specialist John Sutak Insurance Brokers, along with two winery programs from the Argo Group.

Effective January 1, 2019, Paragon will transition its portfolio of direct retail winery clients to EPIC, one of the nation's ten largest privately held retail insurance brokers. The purchase will expand and strengthen EPIC's own commitment to their existing and future wine industry clients.

Paragon will continue to underwrite and broadly provide insurance services to the wine industry on a national basis, and the transaction allows Paragon to maintain a clear strategic focus on the firm's core program management and underwriting expertise, centered on serving the needs of their partners in the retail insurance brokerage community.

"We are excited about the transaction and eliminating any possible ambiguity about the strength of our commitment to serving and supporting our retail insurance brokerage partners," said Erik Kriens, SVP Business Development at Paragon.

"We know EPIC Wine Industry Practice Leader Mike McNulty and the EPIC team well from many years of working with them on the specialty programs and MGA front. We are confident that they will provide outstanding service, strong advocacy, and effective representation to the wine industry clients they are acquiring from us," Kriens added.

Any inquiries can be directed to Erik Kriens at Paragon Insurance Holdings in San Francisco: ekriens@paragonisngroup.com or (860) 629-0849.

About Paragon:

A broadly diversified MGA, Paragon provides unique opportunities and solutions to retail agents, insurance carriers, reinsurers and vendor partners.

Please visit https://www.paragoninsgroup.com/ for additional information.

Paragon Insurance Holdings LLC today announced the sale of the firm's direct retail wine industry business to retail insurance broker EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants. The accounts in question came to Paragon in the fall of 2017 when they purchased wine industry specialist John Sutak Insurance Brokers, along with two winery programs from the Argo Group.

Related link: http://www.paragoninsgroup.com/

Paragon Insurance Holdings LLC Names Andrew Petersen as Regional President and EVP of Reinsurance Operations

AVON, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- Paragon Insurance Holdings, LLC ("Paragon"), a national multi-line specialty MGA, today announced the addition of Andrew Petersen to the Paragon executive management team as Regional President and EVP of Reinsurance Operations. Petersen will report to Ron Ganiats, Paragon's CEO.

Prior to joining Paragon, Petersen was Chief Corporate Development Officer of Atlas General Holdings, LLC, a San Diego based general agency.

Earlier in his career, Petersen has also held senior positions at reinsurance intermediaries Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC, and Collins, where he focused on workers' compensation and general agency-based reinsurance placements.

Andrew Petersen can be reached at Paragon via email at apetersen[at]paragoninsgroup.com.

About Paragon:
Formed in 2014 to be a broadly diversified MGA, Paragon provides unique opportunities and solutions to retail agents, insurance carriers, reinsurers and vendor partners.

Please visit http://www.paragoninsgroup.com/ for additional information.

Paragon Insurance Holdings, LLC ("Paragon"), a national multi-line specialty MGA, today announced the addition of Andrew Petersen to the Paragon executive management team as Regional President and EVP of Reinsurance Operations. Petersen will report to Ron Ganiats, Paragon's CEO.

Related link: http://www.paragoninsgroup.com/