AmWins : Everything you need to know

AmWins: Everything you need to know

About AmWins

AmWins is a global specialty insurance distributor that provides a diversified mix of property and casualty (P&C), and group benefits products. The firm also offers a range of value-added services to support these solutions, including product development, underwriting, premium and claims administration, and actuarial services.

AmWins boasts a roster of several dozen brokerage, underwriting, and group benefit operations, which it has acquired over the years. The firm currently receives more than 1.5 million submissions a year from retail insurance agents across the US. It also has over $26.4 billion in premium placements, making it among the largest wholesale brokerages in the country. AmWins has extensive relationships with 25,047 retail insurance brokerage firms and 24,141 insurance underwriting firms. The company also has a total of 1,172 employee shareholders.

Core divisions

AmWins is comprised of five core divisions that span a range of industries and risk specialty practices, including construction, energy, environment, healthcare, hospitality and entertainment, manufacturing and distribution, public entity, real estate, emerging risks, and transportation. These core segments are:

• AmWins Brokerage – handles difficult placements and unique opportunities across all lines.
• AmWins Access – a nationwide binding platform for small P&C businesses focused on E&S binding authority placements for small enterprises, personal lines, and admitted placement services.
• AmWins Underwriting – comprised of specialists who understand the nuances of the markets the firm supports. The unit uses proprietary, cutting-edge technology to provide coverage solutions that leverage insightful data and analytics, completely tailored around unique client needs.
• AmWins Global Risks – serves clients in more than 150 countries to place specialty insurance and reinsurance coverage.
• AmWins Group Benefits – focused on providing solutions to assist benefit brokers and consultants by expanding their product and service offerings through three primary capabilities: access to specialty benefit insurance products and services, robust benefit administration, and program management.

Global reach

AmWins boasts worldwide reach, lending its expertise through businesses spanning six regions, namely:

• United States – US AwWins provides in-depth expertise with teams focused on niche industries and accompanying risks.
• United Kingdom – As an internationally recognized London specialty insurance broker, AmWins Global Risks delivers insurance and reinsurance products to clients around the world.
• Europe – AmWins Global Risks also provides nuanced solutions and supports mainland European insurance company broker partners.
• Asia Pacific – AmWins’ Seoul-based Global Risks team provides specific coverage to clients in the APAC region.
• Latin America – THB offers tailored solutions to clients across Latin America.
• Bermuda – AmWins Bermuda is a part of AmWins’ Alternative Risks team, a group focused on exploring innovative insurance solutions in the parametric, captive, and insurance-linked security space.

Leadership at AmWins

M. Steven DeCarlo – executive chair

DeCarlo was appointed executive chair of AmWins in May 2018. He previously served as chief executive officer of the group for 17 years, leading the business through the merger of several specialty wholesalers. He has also served on the firm’s board of directors since joining AmWins in December 2000.

DeCarlo began his career with Crum & Forster and later joined The London Agency – today part of Chubb – as its chief financial officer. He was also a founding partner of Royal Specialty Underwriting (RSUI), serving as executive vice-president and chief financial officer, before becoming senior vice-president of what was then RSUI’s parent company, Royal & SunAlliance USA.

In 2009, DeCarlo won EY’s prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year award in the Carolinas for the financial services category. He is active in the insurance community and was named the National Insurance Industry Council’s Spirit of Life honoree, raising more than $2.7 million for the City of Hope to support research for life-threatening diseases. DeCarlo earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting at East Tennessee State University.

Scott Purviance – CEO

Purviance became CEO in May 2018, succeeding DeCarlo. One of the company’s first employees, he joined AmWins in July 2001 as chief financial officer and took on the additional role of chief operating officer in April 2012. He has served on the firm’s board of directors since April 2015.

Purviance began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in 1992 serving for seven years in the insurance services assurance practice. After leaving PwC in 1999, he joined the Business Insurance Division of Royal & SunAlliance USA, Inc. as vice-president of finance. Purviance earned a BS in Accounting from Wake Forest University.

Culture at AmWins

AmWins is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. According to Kristin Downey, chief administration officer and head of D&I, AmWins team members deserve to work where they feel like they can be their true selves while contributing to the success of the organization.

“We strive to provide such a workplace and we emphasize building and maintaining a diverse and inclusive culture for all employees,” she stated in a message on the company’s website. “Welcoming diverse viewpoints strengthens our firm and positions us for long-term success. Most importantly, it encourages teamwork and a sense of shared belonging.”

Downey also listed four focus areas of its employee-led Diversity & Inclusion Council. These are:

• Ensuring diversity within recruiting
• Partnering with associations supporting diversity
• Achieving an inclusive workplace 
• Career development and advancement

In addition to these, AmWins partners with organizations leading the charge to foster diversity and inclusion in the industry. Plans are also in place for Purviance to sign the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion pledge, joining more than 2,000 other chief executives in the commitment to lead change from the front.