Hiscox USA Strengthens Middle Market Professional Liability Team With Senior Appointments


Firm Taps Senior Talent to Expand Its Professional Risks Executive Management Team



NEW YORK, NY-- March 02, 2016 -  Hiscox, the international specialist insurer, today announced senior executive hires to its fast-growing Professional Risks division, which is dedicated to providing risk solutions to a wide range of industries and professionals in the technology, architects and engineering, accounting, financial services, real estate, healthcare and other professional liability sectors.

Among the newest additions to the team, Sean Heardon has been appointed to Vice President & Head of Financial Services. In this underwriting leadership role, Mr. Heardon will oversee the strategic direction of the existing investment fund product offerings and lead the expansion into other financial services segments, including registered investment advisors.

Heardon brings 13 years of professional experience and joins Hiscox after eight years at Chubb Specialty Insurance, where he held various senior underwriting positions within the Financial Institutions division. Sean holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Hearden will be based in Hiscox's Chicago office and will report to Neil Lipuma, SVP and Professional Risks Practice Leader for Hiscox USA.

"Sean's extraordinary expertise in the financial institutions space will help us to further accelerate our growth and expansion in the financial services sector, and we are excited to have him join the team" Mr. Lipuma said.

Hiscox also announced the appointment of Maureen LePiane as Senior Vice President and Head of Middle Market E&O for the Professional Risks division, also reporting to Mr. Lipuma but working out of Hiscox's New York office.

Ms. LePiane was previously the E&O Practice Group Leader at Allianz Global where she oversaw a large, national book of E&O business focusing on small and medium sized enterprise accounts in both the retail and wholesale brokerage channels. She has more than 15 years of underwriting management experience across multiple lines, including those underwriting Lawyers, Accountants, Professional Liability, Miscellaneous, Technology, Cyber and Media E&O. Ms. LePiane holds a law degree from Villanova School of Law and was in private law practice prior to embarking on her underwriting career. "I look forward to further expanding the Hiscox USA brand and market share in the SME sector. I see several opportunities to broaden our product offerings and appetite for SME professional liability sectors," Ms. Le Piane said.

"Maureen's experience leading the development of solutions and teams dedicated to the unique and evolving needs of middle market businesses with less than $1 billion in revenue will be a huge asset to our business," said Mr. Lipuma. "Hiscox USA is committed to providing SME businesses the solutions they need to succeed, and we expect to continue to invest in the best talent and capabilities in order to serve these organizations."

Hiscox USA provides a variety of specialty risk solutions including a broad spectrum of professional E&O, GL, cyber and data security, media liability, management liability, crime, kidnap & ransom, terrorism and commercial property insurance products. The Hiscox American Courage Index™ is the first survey to track personal and professional courage across the United States.

In the US, Hiscox has offices in New York, NY; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA and White Plains, NY.

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Additional information can be found at www.hiscox.com/brokers

Follow Hiscox USA on Twitter @Hiscox_USA.


About Hiscox in the U.S.
Hiscox, the international specialist insurer, is headquartered in Bermuda and listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: HSX). There are three main underwriting parts of the Group - Hiscox London Market, Hiscox UK and Europe and Hiscox International. Hiscox International includes operations in Bermuda, Guernsey and the USA. Hiscox Syndicates Ltd is authorized by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. The ability of syndicates at Lloyd's to do business in the USA and its territories is restricted as they are not US-based insurers. Hiscox Underwriting Limited and Hiscox ASM Limited are authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Hiscox Inc., a Delaware corporation headquartered in New York, d/b/a Hiscox Insurance Agency in CA, is a licensed insurance intermediary for admitted and surplus lines business. Hiscox Inc. underwrites on behalf of, and places business with, Hiscox Insurance Company Inc., other domestic insurers, and syndicates at Lloyd's (www.lloyds.com). Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. is a Chicago, IL domiciled insurer which is admitted or licensed to do business in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

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For further information please contact:

Kate Dillon
212-279-3115 x115
[email protected]