Novatae Risk Group, the wholesale insurance arm of World Insurance Associates, has appointed J. Clay Kadlic (pictured above) as vice president of strategic partnerships, drafting in a veteran distribution executive at a moment when growth in the US excess and surplus (E&S) market is starting to moderate.
Kadlic will oversee the design and rollout of partnership programs aimed at supporting the wholesaler's growth, extending its retail distribution reach, and deepening ties with carrier partners.
He arrives with more than two decades of business development and national relationship management experience, having held senior roles at H.W. Kaufman Group, Burns & Wilcox Brokerage, and Swett & Crawford. He holds a bachelor's degree in finance and economics from Robert Morris University.
Novatae president Nick Greggains said Kadlic's track record should translate well into the new role. "I am delighted that he is joining the team and have complete confidence he will nurture and develop our alliances aligned with our long-term vision," he said.
Kadlic said he was glad to come aboard during the firm's expansion phase. "I'm a firm believer in a relationship-first mindset and collaborative approach and look forward to partnering with our clients and partners in that capacity," he added.
The strategic partnerships function carries unusual weight in wholesale insurance. AM Best estimates wholesalers placed roughly 94% of E&S premiums over the past five years, making carrier appetites, binding authorities, and retail broker ties central to revenue generation.
Consultancy Deloitte has described strategic partnership management as a core capability that demands firms scout aligned partners, set clear priorities, and actively manage performance.
Read more: Novatae names new CFO
The hire also lands at a transitional moment for the US wholesale market. AM Best data show E&S premium growth slowed to 9.7% through the third quarter of 2025, down from 13.5% a year earlier, and the rating agency has shifted its outlook on the segment from positive to stable, citing moderating growth and early signs of rate softening.
Figures from the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association put surplus lines premium across 15 stamping states at $90.3 billion for 2025, up 7.8% on the year.
Property lines are doing much of the cooling. IMA Financial Group has flagged rate cuts of around 10% as common for catastrophe-exposed accounts, while casualty remains under pressure from rising claims severity and litigation costs.
The appointment follows Novatae's January 2026 hire of Walter Juergens, formerly a regional chief financial officer at AssuredPartners, as CFO.
Previously reported, the wholesaler was about three quarters of the way through migrating 17 acquired businesses from six legacy systems onto a single policy administration platform as of January 2026, vice president of data Anju Arora said at the time.
That technology overhaul runs in parallel with the carrier and retail relationship work now falling under Kadlic's remit.
