Headquarters:
800 Oak Ridge Turnpike #A1000, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Year founded:
1996
Number of employees:
275+
Phone:
888 376 9633
Email:
brand@appund.com
Website:
appund.com
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/appalachianunderwritersinc
“We maintain several cross-company employee networks allowing staff to connect and learn from each other, fostering our inclusive culture and celebrating the diversity within our business”
Marcella McLean,
Arch Insurance International
APPALACHIAN UNDERWRITERS
Bob Arowood
Wholesale Senior Advisor
Brian Fischer
AUI President
Zach Blaetz
Director of Sales
Leadership
Robert (Bob) Arowood brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in the insurance retail and wholesale industry. After founding AUI and paving the way for it to become one of the top Wholesale companies in North America, Bob now serves in an advisory role.
Wholesale Senior Advisor
Bob Arowood
Brian Fischer has been involved in the carrier, specialty programs, and agency sectors of the insurance marketplace for over 35 years. With diverse experience in commercial, underwriting, loss control, and sales, he now serves as AUI’s president, continuing to lead the company to success across all markets.
AUI President
Brian Fischer
Zach Blaetz is an accomplished director of sales with over eight years of experience at Appalachian Underwriters. He manages a team of sales representatives across the country and was instrumental in starting the Burlington, NC office. Zach is a skilled communicator and relationship builder, able to connect with clients and colleagues alike. He is adept at developing and executing sales strategies that drive revenue growth and is committed to delivering exceptional customer service.
Director of Sales
Zach Blaetz
“We maintain several cross-company employee networks allowing staff to connect and learn from each other, fostering our inclusive culture and celebrating the diversity within our business”
Marcella McLean,
Arch Insurance International
“We will continue to strengthen our service proposition and customer experience as a key differentiator, as we build on the momentum we have achieved to date across multiple business lines and territories”
Marcella McLean, Arch Insurance International
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“We will continue to strengthen our service proposition and customer experience as a key differentiator, as we build on the momentum we have achieved to date across multiple business lines and territories”
Marcella McLean,
Arch Insurance International
“We maintain several cross-company employee networks allowing staff to connect and learn from each other, fostering our inclusive culture and celebrating the diversity within our business”
Marcella McLean,
Arch Insurance International
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John Chisenhall
Director of Marketing and Digital Partnerships
John Chisenhall is the director of marketing and digital partnerships at Appalachian Underwriters. He joined the company in 2022 as a regional sales manager and recently moved to his current role. With over 15 years of experience in the insurance industry, John has primarily worked on the wholesale and MGA side. His background is in commercial insurance, specializing in workers’ compensation, real estate, and hospitality. John is skilled in digital strategy, communication, and relationship building, and is focused on driving business growth and building strong partnerships in the industry.
Director of Marketing and Digital Partnerships
John Chisenhall
Kristin Downey
Chief Administrative Officer
Kristin Downey leads the team responsible for developing and implementing the people strategies to support Amwins’ business objectives. She also directs the management and operations for compensation and benefits, HR systems and payroll, employee relations and assistance, talent management, training and development, and marketing and communications. Downey also leads the company’s philanthropic efforts, including the Amwins Foundation.
Chief Administrative Officer
Kristin Downey
Appalachian Underwriters is a leading insurance wholesaler providing a wide range of products and services to independent agents across the United States. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Appalachian Underwriters has a reputation for exceptional customer service and innovative solutions. Its team of experts specializes in personal and commercial lines, excess and surplus, transportation, and more. Committed to delivering value and building long-term relationships, Appalachian Underwriters is a trusted partner for agents and carriers alike.
“We will continue to strengthen our service proposition and customer experience as a key differentiator, as we build on the momentum we have achieved to date across multiple business lines and territories”
Marcella McLean,
Arch Insurance International
Donna Hargrove
General Counsel
Mark Bernacki
Chief Underwriting Officer
Julie Prewitt
Senior Vice President, Marketing
Simon Williams
Chief Strategy & Distribution Officer, Arch Insurance International
and Active Underwriter, Syndicate 1955
Since 2008, Donna Hargrove has served as general counsel of Amwins and is responsible for identifying and managing all legal risks for the company. She advises executive leadership and the board of directors on a range of business issues, including corporate governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance. Prior to joining Amwins, Hargrove served as corporate in-house counsel for BB&T Insurance Services. Earlier in her career, she served in private practice with Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, concentrating on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate matters.
General Counsel
Donna Hargrove
Mark Bernacki is the chief underwriting officer of Amwins, the first to serve in the role. Prior to that, he served as president of Amwins Special Risk Underwriters. In addition to his leadership in underwriting, Bernacki runs the Amwins Alternative Risk Transfer Team for Amwins.
Chief Underwriting Officer
Mark Bernacki
Julie Prewitt has worked on nearly every aspect of marketing and advertising in her nearly 20 years in the industry. Her team at REInsurePro manages branding, advertising, events, content, digital campaigns, and agent engagement and plays a key role in product development.
Senior Vice President, Marketing
Julie Prewitt
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
Arch provides underwriting solutions across a diverse and growing portfolio of more than 20 business classes, spanning multiple platforms in the London company market, the Lloyd’s market, the UK regional market as well as markets in Australia, Bermuda, and the EU.
Through their Lloyd’s and London company market platforms, Arch provides customised solutions and high levels of capacity across multiple (re)insurance classes. Arch’s UK Regional division, launched in 2018, offers specialised insurance solutions for a wide range of businesses, from 11 locations across the country.
The past few years have been transformational for Arch Insurance International. Since 2019 the company has more than trebled in size in terms of GWP, and this growth has been seen across all territorial platforms. In 2021 Arch launched its new brand promise, Pursuing Better Together, encapsulating an approach to doing business based on collaboration, responsiveness, and a genuine commitment to continually raising the bar.
Arch has a clearly defined three-year plan that is underpinned by more than 100 objectives.
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“We will continue to strengthen our service proposition and customer experience as a key differentiator, as we build on the momentum we have achieved to date across multiple business lines and territories,” says McLean. “Our im is to continue to grow our market relevance and strengthen our partnerships with our strategic brokers as we expand our leadership position in key sectors.
“We will also continue to invest in talent. We are committed to drawing from the broadest pools of talent, and to creating an environment that attracts and retains stellar employees. We recognise the importance of building teams that are diverse, collaborative, and innovative and are dedicated to cultivating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture in which all our employees can thrive.”
