By James Thaler

March 17 - (The Insurer) - Ryan Specialty has hired former longtime Aon executive Steve Keogh as its new COO, representing a return to the market for the executive after he retired in late 2022 to end more than three decades with the global intermediary.

A spokesperson for Ryan Specialty confirmed Keogh will be taking the position. He will officially begin in the role on May 1, reporting to CEO Tim Turner.

In 34 years with Aon, Keogh held numerous roles, which included head of human resources for the company’s retail broking division, as well as stints as chief administrative officer for the unit, U.S. president of commercial risk and health solutions.

He spent two years as president of commercial risk solutions between 2019 and 2021, before stepping down and serving as a senior adviser for a year.

Keogh’s appointment is the latest in a series of actions by the Chicago-based wholesaler and MGU platform, following the appointment of RT Specialty co-founder Turner as Ryan Specialty’s new CEO last October, succeeding founder Pat Ryan, who remains executive chairman.

In addition, the firm’s CFO Jeremiah Bickham took over Turner’s role as group president, with Michael Van Acker and RT's property CEO Brenda Austenfeld being named the wholesaler's co-presidents and Ed McCormack being named RT’s new CEO.

Miles Wuller was named the CEO of Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers in September 2021, while last month Eric Quinn was promoted to president of the underwriting division.

Ryan Specialty has been on a major acquisition spree in the last two years on the underwriting side, with major acquisitions including those of Innovisk Capital Partners, US Assure, Velocity Risk Underwriters and Ethos’ property and casualty business from Ascot.

The firm’s rival CRC Group has signalled its ambition to be an active acquirer, including in the MGA space, while Amwins has also made select acquisitions in recent years.

In the wholesale brokerage space, The Insurer broke the news that newly independent CRC Group is in active talks to acquire its fellow Stone Point-backed intermediary ARC Excess & Surplus.