Ryan Turner Specialty (RT Specialty), the wholesale brokerage division of Ryan Specialty, has appointed Brendan Mulshine as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective August 1st, 2026.
Mulshine currently serves as the Co-President of Ryan Specialty, a role he will continue to hold in addition to his new responsibilities.
He will work closely with leadership to drive accelerated growth and deepen relationships with retail broker clients and carrier trading partners.
Mulshine joined the firm in 2012 and has worked across all of its business units, including RT Specialty, as part of a 30-year career in law, insurance, and reinsurance.
Alongside this, the broker has appointed several senior leaders in new roles, aligning with its long-term strategic growth plan. All the appointments are effective August 1st, 2026.
Ed McCormack, CEO of RT Specialty, will transition to Vice Chairman and remain in that role through 2027.
The broker said that since the firm’s inception, McCormack has been one of the driving forces behind its “rise as a leader in the specialty insurance market,” and has been integral to the strategic direction, talent building, and relationship development.
Brenda (Ballard) Austenfeld, Co-President of RT Specialty and CEO of its National Property Practice, will become Deputy Vice Chairman of RT Specialty.
Hugh Mooney, President of the National Property Practice with over two decades of expertise in wholesale insurance, will become CEO of the Property Practice.
Chris Houska, CEO of RT Specialty’s National Casualty Practice, who has been part of the firm’s leadership since 2010, will become Vice Chairman of the National Casualty Practice through 2027.
Ryan Grimes, President of the National Casualty Practice with twenty years of experience in wholesale insurance, will become CEO of the casualty practice.
Tim Turner, CEO of Ryan Specialty and Chairman of RT Specialty, commented, “Ed McCormack is one of the main architects of RT Specialty, and his fingerprints are on virtually everything that has made this firm great. Ed’s strategic thinking and relentless work ethic have helped us build the most expert and hardest-working wholesale team in the business, and I am grateful that he will continue as Vice Chairman, providing his judgment and vision for the firm and our people.”
He continued, “Brendan is the ideal leader to take the reins as RT’s CEO, as he shares our conviction that success in this market is earned through superior insight, disciplined execution and an unwavering commitment to our clients and trading partners. Under Brendan’s leadership, and with the support of a deep and seasoned team, RT Specialty will continue to build on its exceptional foundation.”
McCormack said, “Helping build RT Specialty alongside Pat, Tim, and this world-class team has been a privilege. I will always be proud of the culture, talent and relationships we have created over the past 16 years. Brendan is a phenomenal leader and the right person to drive RT Specialty forward, and I look forward to continuing to support him, our teammates and our clients in my new role.”
Mulshine added, “It is a tremendous honour to step into this role, and I want to thank Ed for everything he has built, the example he has set, and his continued partnership. We have the best brokers and underwriters in the business, and we intend to keep winning the way RT always has—by outworking and out-executing for the benefit of our clients and trading partners. I could not be more excited about what’s ahead.”
He continued, “Brenda, Hugh, Chris and Ryan each bring extensive experience in the insurance industry and at RT Specialty. These leadership transitions highlight the deep roster of talent we’ve built, and I look forward to working even more closely with them in our respective new roles.”
