The Professional Insurance Wholesalers Association (PIWA) and the New England Surplus Lines Association (NESLA) have announced their merger, combining the strengths of two organizations representing excess-and-surplus wholesalers.
The newly unified association aims to offer a stronger platform for wholesalers in the Northeast, providing advocacy, education and networking opportunities.
Financial terms of the merger were not disclosed.
PIWA, which represents wholesalers who work with retail producers in the specialty and excess-and-surplus markets, is known for lobbying for legislative changes, including requirements for retail agents to notify premium finance companies and legislation allowing security guards to use non-admitted carriers for insurance as part of their licensing process. The association provides legislative and regulatory advocacy, networking opportunities, education opportunities, and industry outreach, among others.
“This merger marks an important chapter in the lifetimes of both associations,” said PIWA president Robert Farella. “By combining our resources as a single association, we can provide the best possible service to wholesalers in the Northeast.”
“We are proud to join forces, and our work shall continue under the banner of PIWA,” said NESLA president Rich Martino. “Wholesalers in the Northeast will now have a broader influence and a bigger voice in the industry.”
According to the association, its members continuously study specialty markets and are experts at writing business through specialty and non-admitted companies.
