Wholesale specialist Burns & Wilcox has announced new leadership appointments for its offices in Atlanta, Baltimore, and Minneapolis as part of its ongoing strategy to strengthen its presence in key markets.
Scott Kiser has been named managing director of the Atlanta office and will report to vice president William Briscoe. Kiser joins the company from Oakbridge Insurance Agency, where he served as senior vice president. In that role, he was responsible for more than 100 employees across eight states and managed the launch of a high net worth division, as well as carrier relationships.
Maria Brown has been appointed managing director for the Baltimore office, reporting to regional vice president Doug Legters. Brown brings over 25 years of experience to the position, having held leadership roles at American Family, Global Indemnity, and Nationwide. Her background includes work in both personal and commercial lines, as well as operational oversight in areas such as agency marketing, underwriting, product development, IT, claims, and finance.
Read more: Wholesalers urged to adapt as digital platforms disrupt the market
Mike Wilman will serve as associate managing director for the Minneapolis office, reporting to regional vice president John Karl. Wilman has spent the last 12 years as a top producer at RPS and Hub International, following more than a decade in managerial and senior leadership roles in other industries. His insurance experience includes commercial binding programs and national brokerage business.
Burns & Wilcox president Danny Kaufman (pictured above) commented on the appointments, saying, “The addition of Scott, Maria and Mike points to Burns & Wilcox as a career destination and unique opportunity for outstanding insurance professionals to further their career with us."
“We look forward to capitalizing on their leadership as each office’s success will continue to be fundamental to our North American growth strategy,” Kaufman said.
The appointments come at a time when the wholesale insurance sector is being reshaped by digital platforms. The adoption of new technology is streamlining processes and changing how brokers and wholesalers interact, prompting firms like Burns & Wilcox to continually evaluate their digital strategies to remain competitive in an evolving market.
Read more: Soft markets and rising cyber claims are squeezing wholesalers
The sector is also contending with soft market conditions and a rise in cyber claims, which are placing additional pressure on margins. These trends require wholesalers to balance competitive pricing with the need to address new risks, making leadership and adaptability increasingly important for firms navigating today’s insurance landscape.
