Ryan Specialty announced that Michael Blackshear, chief compliance & privacy officer, will assume additional responsibilities as the head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).

Blackshear has over 30 years of financial service and executive experience in the areas of compliance and risk management. Prior to joining Ryan Specialty, he was the North America chief compliance officer for Chubb Insurance Group, responsible for developing and maintaining their North American compliance program. He has held various leadership roles with Marsh & McLennan Companies, focusing on compliance and government affairs, and has also had positions at KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Continental Insurance Company and Alexander & Alexander Services Inc.

“There are critical moral and ethical reasons for promoting DEI throughout our society, our firm and the insurance industry. The ‘business case’ for building a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace has never been clearer,” said Patrick G. Ryan, founder, chairman and CEO of Ryan Specialty, in a statement.

Blackshear said that “being a change agent for DEI has been my passion and inner calling. This is important to me, and to so many individuals that I have had the privilege of listening to that are seeking fair and equitable opportunities for growth, advancement, and just to have their voice heard. I thank Pat Ryan and Tim Turner for making this one of our key strategic objectives for growth, attracting and retaining top talent, and for doing the right thing, because it’s the right thing to do.”

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Safety National has appointed Steven Anderson as director of Cyber Underwriting.

With nearly 30 years of industry experience, Anderson brings extensive insight across the entire cyber insurance life cycle from business development, underwriting and claims. He served in various underwriting and product leader positions managing the cyber and E&O insurance offerings at global cyber insurance carriers and, most recently, an InsurTech startup.

“Steve is a wonderful addition to the cyber team,” said Spencer Timmel, national director of Cyber Insurance. “His proven track record of supporting large risk management clients will be a tremendous asset. Steve’s wealth of experience will supplement Safety National’s continued growth and commitment to our cyber insurance offering.”

Anderson will be based out of Safety National’s Dallas, Texas, office.

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The Plymouth Rock Company, parent company of a leading group of auto and home insurance providers in the Northeast, announced that Andrew McElwee has been named president and chief operating officer, taking over responsibility for the firm’s day-to-day operations from Hal Belodoff.

Based in Boston, McElwee will report directly to Jim Stone, founder and chief executive officer of The Plymouth Rock Company.

McElwee joins Plymouth Rock from American Family Insurance, where he was most recently the enterprise chief underwriting officer. Prior to that, he was president and COO of Homesite Group, an affiliate of American Family. He has more than 30 years of insurance industry experience, 25 of which were spent within the Chubb Corporation in various roles of increasing responsibility, including executive vice president of Chubb & Son and COO of Chubb Personal Insurance and Chubb Accident and Health.

Belodoff is retiring as Plymouth Rock’s president and COO after serving the company in various roles for 31 years. He will continue to support the company as a member of Plymouth Rock’s board of directors and in an advisory role.

“Hal has helped build and shape the culture of this company, as well as its results, for over 30 years,” added Stone. “The decision to hire Hal back then was one of the best I’ve made in my life. I am grateful for his partnership and friendship and glad he is remaining on our board and available for occasional assignments.”