Rokstone Adds U.S. Agriculture Division

Rokstone, an international specialty re/insurance MGA, part of the Aventum Group, has launched a specialist agriculture division for the U.S. market.

The new division, Rokstone Agriculture Risk Underwriters, will be led by underwriting specialist Eric Conklin who has over 20 years’ experience underwriting livestock and equine business. Prior to joining Rokstone Conklin was the head of Equine & Livestock Americas for AXA XL, where he managed the equine portfolio and built a significant livestock business from the ground up.

Conklin commented: “I am really excited to be joining Rokstone – its entrepreneurial DNA and its focus on creating long term value is inspiring.

“We’re launching this new division at such a pivotal moment in U.S. agriculture underwriting,” Conklin said in a statement. “It is an area that has suffered from lack of innovation and the hard market has been punishing.” He said that Rokstone Agriculture Risk Underwriters plans to kick off with one of the market’s first online quote and buy facilities for livestock risks. Rokstone has had success with this approach in the UK with its agricultural team at iFarm Underwriting. “We plan to leverage that expertise and technical capability here in the U.S. and will be supported by A rated capacity partners.”

Rokstone is a global managing general agency in specialty lines business with offices in the U.S., UK, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. It currently underwrites $500 million GWP in several specialty lines including marine, terrorism and political violence, direct and facultative property, treaty property, construction and engineering, liability and now agriculture.

Source: Rokstone