Ryan Specialty has appointed Mark Birrell as Executive Chairman and James Montgomery (Monty) as Chief Executive Officer of Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers International (RSUM International) effective January 1, 2025.
According to Ryan Specialty, both of these executives are based in RSUM International’s London
headquarters.
Birrell, previously Chairman and CEO of Castel Underwriting Agencies, joined the firm via acquisition, assuming the role of Chairman and CEO of RSUM International.
He holds over 45 years of experience within the insurance industry, having spent the first 20 in the Lloyd’s broking community. Birrell later founded both Wildnet Group and Castel Underwriting Agencies.
Birrell commented on his new role, “I’m excited to take on the new role of Executive Chairman and focus on the continued international expansion in both product and region.
“The growth of Ryan Specialty’s international expansion, especially with Innovisk now on board, requires a split role of our international executive leadership. Monty is a proven talent and leader, and I’m very much looking forward to working closely with him to expand our offering for our clients and trading partners.”
Meanwhile, James Montgomery has been with Ryan Specialty since 2016 when he joined the firm’s transactional risk managing general underwriter, Ryan Transactional Risk (RTR).
Montgomery is currently a Managing Director of Ryan Transactional Risk and has been instrumental in the growth and global consolidation of the RTR platform.
He reportedly joined the insurance industry in 2011, initially with the law firm Kennedys and subsequently with QBE, underwriting Financial Institutions and Mergers & Acquisitions products.
“I am really looking forward to this next chapter in my career as CEO of RSUM International. The business is primed for continued growth and positioned exceptionally well with a great roster of individuals across all of our teams, geographies and verticals,” Montgomery said.
He added, “We are in a time of enormous opportunity, and I look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional service, outstanding outcomes and innovative solutions for our clients and carrier trading partners internationally. I could not have achieved this appointment without the continued support of the amazing people with whom I work at Ryan Specialty and in the wider industry.”
Miles Wuller, President and CEO of Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers, observed, “The appointments of Mark and Monty reinforce our commitment to expand our executive team and platform to meet our clients’ needs and international growth ambitions.
“Mark and Monty are colleagues and executives each with exceptional track records of building, innovating and executing on growth initiatives at the highest level.
“We are confident they will integrate and continue to scale the exceptional talent and resources of RSUM International, Castel and Innovisk and accelerate our international expansion.”
