Ashly Turner has been appointed to lead US Energy Insurance and Steve Blackwell to lead US Life Sciences Insurance at Hamilton Select Insurance Inc, Hamilton’s newly-launched E&S insurer with a financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) from A.M. Best

Over the past year, Hamilton Insurance Group Ltd has established and quickly grown its US E&S business, launched Hamilton Select, and began writing policies on its domestic paper, under the leadership of Clay Rhoades, CEO of Hamilton Select.

That growth continues with Ms Turner and Mr Blackwell having hit the ground running in building out their respective lines of business. Reporting to Rhoades, they are both based in Hamilton’s new Richmond, Virginia, office.

"It’s been a thrilling experience for everyone on our team to build a new US E&S insurer and our hard work is coming together to build a specialty market of choice for hard-to-place accounts,” said Rhoades.

“I’m excited to welcome Ashly and Steve’s underwriting expertise to our already impressive team. The current market continues to offer plenty of opportunity for smart players.”

Turner joins Hamilton from Zurich North America, where she held a senior underwriting role for energy casualty risks. Before that she was a team leader in the environmental unit at James River Insurance Company.

Hamilton Select’s Energy division is targeting small-to-midsize hard-to-place risks in the energy-related contracting, exploration and production, renewables (including solar and wind), and petrochemical manufacturing and distribution sectors.

Coverages available include general liability (with pollution and professional options) and up to $5 million in supported or unsupported excess limits for US-based risks with up to $25 million revenues (exceptions made on a case-by-case basis).

Blackwell comes to Hamilton having specialised in life sciences in his most recent two senior underwriting roles with Hanover Insurance Group and, more recently, Berkley Life Sciences.

Hamilton Select’s Life Sciences division is focused on a broad range of hard-to-place risks engaged in research and/or commerce in the medical device, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmetic, contract research, and healthcare IT industry.

Coverage may include products liability (with errors and omissions and other supplemental coverage options) on a primary or excess basis.