HDI Global US is expanding its physical footprint, specialist underwriting capabilities and broker-facing leadership as the carrier pursues a larger share of the US commercial insurance market.
New CEO Shadi Albert (pictured) said the expansion is intended to capitalize on what he described as a “flight to quality,” with brokers and large commercial clients placing greater weight on stable capacity, balance-sheet strength and services extending beyond the policy itself.
“I think if you’re a client on a multinational level or a middle-market level where we tend to play in large accounts and the middle market, you want to make sure that your insurance companies are around for the long term,” Albert told Insurance Business. “They are providing more than just coverage. They’re providing value in terms of risk consulting, different types of alternative products, including captives.”
Albert assumed the CEO role on July 13 as part of HDI Global’s Xcelerate29 strategy, which is designed to move the company from what it calls a market challenger to a front runner. His background includes senior roles at global brokers Aon, Marsh and WTW, as well as leadership positions at W. R. Berkley Corporation.
He said the experience has informed his focus on responsiveness and the practical demands placed on brokers when serving complex commercial accounts. “Brokers always look for responsiveness and quick delivery, and for us, that is an important element,” Albert said.
Technology investment will be central to that effort. HDI plans to improve how it captures and uses internal and third-party data across underwriting and claims, while developing systems intended to deliver faster service to brokers.
The insurer is also expanding its distribution leadership. Uwe Schober has joined as chief commercial officer and will oversee business development, including relationships with HDI’s largest broking partners. Justin Gress has been appointed chief operating officer.
HDI currently operates across approximately 12 business lines in the US, including environmental, energy and recently added cyber and credit and political risk capabilities. It is also investing in life sciences and engineering.
Albert said the carrier will continue assessing areas where competition remains limited and margins support sustainable participation. Its focus will remain on large and upper-middle-market commercial risks rather than personal lines or more commoditized small-commercial business.
Its multinational network is expected to be a key differentiator. HDI writes more than 5,500 multinational accounts globally and can support risks across more than 200 countries and territories, according to Albert.
Cyber is among the specialist areas HDI sees as offering room for further growth. The carrier recently established a cyber business under Jill Salmon, one of several additions intended to diversify its US portfolio and give brokers more options when assembling complex, multiline programs.
Albert said demand is being supported by the continued evolution of cyber threats and the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence across industries. However, the limited claims history associated with newer AI applications means carriers must continue studying how the technology changes clients’ exposures. “I think we’re seeing technology develop very quickly, and at the same time, our clients are trying to understand how to apply it in their businesses,” he said. “We’re understanding that and studying that to ensure that we understand what the potential exposures are to the business.”
Casualty presents a different opportunity. Inflation, nuclear verdicts and rising loss severity have made it one of the most difficult areas of the US commercial market, but Albert said those pressures are also increasing demand for carriers that can offer technical underwriting and risk consulting alongside capacity. HDI intends to approach casualty growth selectively, using defined risk appetites, consistent underwriting standards and account-level data rather than pursuing premium volume. Its broader portfolio also allows the insurer to develop relationships with brokers across multiple lines while limiting dependence on casualty performance alone.
Despite its growth ambitions, the carrier does not intend to chase premium indiscriminately. That discipline will be particularly important in casualty, where loss severity, inflation and nuclear verdicts continue to pressure results.
“When we say we want to grow, we mean we want to grow but grow profitably, and that’s focusing on profitability, not top-line growth,” Albert said.
The strategy includes clearly defined risk appetites, uniform underwriting standards and data-supported account decisions. Albert said HDI’s diversification across commercial, industrial and specialty lines should also allow the carrier to continue supporting broker partners without becoming overly dependent on any single pressured segment.
The insurer is pairing that international reach with a more localized US presence. Headquartered in Chicago, HDI recently expanded into office space at 4 World Trade Center in New York, which it shares with sister company Falcon Risk Services. The location brings its teams closer to major multinational brokers, including Marsh, WTW and Aon.
An office in Scottsdale, Arizona, is also expected to open shortly, giving HDI a base near a significant concentration of E&S wholesale brokers. The insurer already has a presence in Glendale, California.
“Over the next year, [we want to] have offices throughout the four corners of the country and be able to interact with our brokers, but also importantly our clients at a local level,” Albert said.
