Transcript

Hi, my name is Mike Farrington and I'm the Vice President for Distribution here in the construction segment of Crum & Forster. Joining me today is Paul Anderson, the newly named Senior Vice President and Leader of the construction segment. Congratulations Paul on being named the Senior VP for construction. In your new role, What do you believe are the two or three most important items for the construction segment to focus on as we move from 2025 into 2026? Well, thanks, Mike. You know, it's really an honor to have been chosen to take over the reins for my friend and predecessor, Tony Pacholec. He left us in a very good position to get our construction unit moving to that next level. I would say moving into 2026, you know, we're focusing on increasing Crum & Forster's brand recognition in the construction insurance space as well. We'll be looking for innovative ways to become more effective and more efficient in growing our book profitably. You know, we're increasing brand recognition by being out in the market explaining how we work and how we are a great company to work with. We also attend and sponsor a bunch of industry events like the IRMI Construction Risk conference. The thing is, you know at Crum & Forster, we have a national footprint and we have the ability to do business in all states. Now our charge is going to be. How are we going to get out to those areas that currently we don't have that brand recognition and turn that around? And the innovations piece, you know we're looking to be more purposeful in how we grow and become more efficient and effective. One way we're doing this is by promoting Rob Walsh to be our Vice President of growth and innovation. This is a new position where he's going to be charged with getting out into the market, trying to find new where areas to grow, whether that's geographical, class of business, line of business or anyway other, you know that he can find. He's going to vet those opportunities within our corporate team at that point. And then we'll decide if that really is an opportunity for us to go after. He's also going to be leading the charge on how we might differently structure our team to deliver those products for those new opportunities, which I think could lead us to be writing business more efficiently. You know it sounds to me Paul, like given the number of markets that are out there in the construction space, anything that we can do that's going to differentiate us in the space and create that excitement for Crum & Forster in construction, I think it's going to lead to some of the increases in production, but not only production just to the increase it increased. Of, of knowing who we are in the space. I mean, I think that's always been a challenge for us is where do we actually fit out there with everybody else that we compete against. So anything I think that we can do that are going to differentiate us in the space, which again begins with the underwriters, I think is what's going to really separate us from the pack. So I agree. So again, given the items you just identified, where do you see the segment as we go into the next three to five years? Well, first, I would say in the next three to five years, I see our construction unit growing our book at a much faster pace than we grow head count. You know, using technology like artificial intelligence and risk modeling to do some of the tasks that underwriters currently have to do manually. Now I think gives those underwriters more time to go out and market and to go out and actually make underwriting decisions which will turn and I think will turn into production and growth that's well beyond what we have capability of right now. I also see that our unit is will be become more familiar to our brokers and clients throughout the country. The goal is really for them to have a better understanding of why they should consider us a great construction market. This is really important for me personally, but I think for all of us should be because our aspiration is to be seen as a major player in the construction insurance space nationally. Well, again, as I said a few minutes ago, I mean anything that we can do that sets us apart from the pack is, is what's going to make a difference and we've been able to do that. So far, but I think under your new leadership, I think you're going to take us to the next level. And I know that I'm very excited about the future of construction to Crum & Forester, as well as the rest of the team. So, so listen, Paul, thanks again for your time this morning. I know you're very busy and I'm very much appreciate you taking a few minutes to chat with me this morning. Have a great day. Thanks, Mike, you too.