Zurich US has appointed Tobias Cushing to lead its excess and surplus lines business as conditions across the specialty market become increasingly divided between property and casualty lines.
Cushing, currently head of Zurich US Construction, will become president of Zurich E&S on September 16, replacing Christopher Lewis, who is retiring after four years leading the operation and nearly four decades in financial services. James Savage, who has led US Construction Casualty for the past four years, will succeed Cushing as head of US Construction on the same date.
The appointment comes as growth in the surplus-lines market begins to moderate. Premium across the 15 US stamping-office states increased 2.8% to $47.6 billion in the first half of 2026, but the headline figure masks a widening split between major lines. E&S property premium fell 13.7%, while non-professional liability rose 11.2% and professional liability increased 15%. That puts Cushing at the head of Zurich E&S as underwriting conditions become less uniform, with greater competition in property running alongside continued pressure in liability classes.
Cushing previously served as deputy chief underwriting officer for Zurich North America and has experience working across complex commercial risks and wholesale distribution.
"These leadership moves reflect the strength of our talent and our focus on staying close to customers and brokers in a fast-moving market. Toby and James are proven leaders who bring the experience, discipline and market focus needed to build on that momentum and help us continue to win," Zurich US CEO Sierra Signorelli said.
Savage takes over Zurich's construction business as project values and risk concentrations continue to increase, particularly in the data-center sector. The average data-center project in Zurich Construction's Builders Risk portfolio has risen from approximately $150 million five years ago to more than $3 billion today - a shift that prompted Zurich to realign its construction claims operation and that gives Savage an immediate and specific set of accumulation management questions to work through.
Savage will report to Kelly Kinzer, global specialty head of construction and surety. Zurich's construction business serves general contractors and developers across sectors including technology, advanced manufacturing, health care and higher education.
For brokers placing E&S business with Zurich, the leadership change reinforces the market dynamic already visible in the midyear data: property placements have more room to negotiate on price and terms, while casualty lines - particularly professional and non-professional liability - remain firm and require earlier engagement with underwriters to secure capacity. Cushing's background across complex commercial risks and wholesale distribution suggests a leader who understands the placement mechanics brokers rely on in a bifurcated market.
