By Rebecca Delaney

Feb 24 - (The Insurer) - Aventum Group-owned specialty MGA Rokstone has launched a U.S.-based excess and surplus lines MGA, led by new hire John Larkins as president.

Rokstone Commercial Risks will offer a broad casualty-focused E&S underwriting appetite to address growing demand for coverage in the E&S market.

It offers direct access to E&S products for small to middle-market commercial risks (including general liability, liquor liability, excess liability and property coverages), with capacity provided by various A-rated Lloyd’s syndicates on a multi-year non-admitted basis.

Rokstone described it as one of just three players in the E&S market that focus on retail-exclusive distribution.

The MGA is led by newly appointed Larkins, who joins from Hudson Insurance Group where he served as senior vice president and head of general liability.

Other previous roles include CUO of Berkley Aspire and senior underwriting manager for E&S lines at Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters.

Larkins is joined at Rokstone Commercial Risks by former colleagues Pepper Sleight and Scott Powell.

Sleight joins as senior vice president of underwriting, having most recently served as head of general liability binding and programs at Hudson.

Prior to that she spent eight years at Berkley Aspire, where Powell (who has been named vice president of underwriting) most recently served as specialty select manager.

Commenting on the launch, newly appointed global CEO Ian Anson said: “This is a game changer for U.S. retail brokers with E&S risks. Brokers will quote and bind business directly from their desktops and retail brokers can now service all their clients’ E&S needs under one roof.

“It’s a streamlined process that reduces time and friction in placing risks, making it faster and more profitable for brokers – offering them significantly higher commission levels than those traditionally offered in the wholesale model.”

Larkins added: “We are creating a model that allows brokers to access fast, efficient solutions for E&S risks without the traditional barriers, but not at the expense of face-to-face relationships. With a focus on technology, expertise, and relationships, we aim to change the way this market works for brokers and clients alike.”