Amwins, the global distributor of specialty insurance products and services, has hired Jon Beckham to lead Amwins Program Underwriters (APU), succeeding Ben Francavilla who has served as president of APU since 2009, and recently announced his retirement scheduled for later this year.
APU is a managing general agent (MGA) that specialises in affinity program management.
In the role, Beckham is expected to hold responsibility for managing the day-to-day operations of APU, as well as overseeing the growth and development of 35 insurance programs covering a variety of niche industries.
Moreover, APU has nine locations across the United States, with more than 175 dedicated professionals and $550 million in annual premium.
A renowned veteran across the sector, Beckham has more than 25 years of experience in the US and internationally.
In his most recent role, he served as president of Beat Capital Partners.
Previously, he led DUAL North America, serving as the firm’s CEO and director, where he heavily focused on origination and managing specialty programs.
Throughout his career across the industry, Beckham has held management positions at (or within) national and international managing general agencies where his responsibilities have included program/product development, business development, operations and capacity management.
In addition, Francavilla joined Amwins in 1999, with his company being one of the founding entities.
Under Francavilla’s leadership, APU has nearly doubled its number of specialty programs and grown annual premium by more than 400%.
Ryan Armijo, president of Amwins Underwriting, commented: “Ben has been foundational to the growth of our underwriting capabilities and the formalization of Amwins’ Underwriting division. During his tenure, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s direction and growth, contributing immensely to its success. His passion, dedication, mentorship and strategic vision have been instrumental in establishing APU as a leader in our industry. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ben for his contributions and wish him the best in retirement and all his future adventures.”
He added: “We are thrilled to welcome Jon to the APU family. With his extensive industry experience, underwriting-focused expertise and market know-how, he is a perfect fit to lead us forward, and we’re confident that under his guidance, APU will continue to thrive and achieve new heights of success.”
Addressing Beckham’s appointment, Francavilla said: “Jon is ideally suited for this role. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position with a thoughtful leadership style that is a great fit with Amwins’ culture.”
Commenting on his new role, Beckham said: “I am honored and excited to join the talented team at APU and look forward to working collaboratively with Ben during this leadership transition as we embark on a new chapter together, driving toward continued success in helping our clients win.”
