Gallagher Bassett (GB) has announced the launch of a new division, GB Specialty, for specialized lines of coverage such as medical malpractice and high-exposure claims in standard lines like general liability.

Rob Blasio, CEO of GB’s Western Litigation unit, will lead GB Specialty, and the Western Litigation team will form the foundation of the new division.

“I’m thrilled that Rob has agreed to lead GB Specialty,” said Scott Hudson, CEO of Gallagher Bassett. “His expertise in complex lines is unsurpassed in our industry. The leadership team he has assembled is equally impressive and exemplifies our commitment to always helping our clients best protect their people, their businesses and their brands. Our clients in construction, transportation, healthcare and other high-exposure industries will greatly benefit from Rob’s attention and involvement.”

“Gallagher Bassett has a storied history and the best professionals in the business,” Blasio said. “I’m honored to have been selected to lead GB Specialty. Our plans are to capitalize on the world-class capabilities we already have in medical malpractice, product liability and professional liability, and expand into adjacent domains like cyber liability and product recall. I look forward to working closely with GB’s standard lines business to deliver the full range of Gallagher Bassett products and services seamlessly to our ever-growing list of clients.”