Management Team

    William Franchi, President

    William Franchi

    President & Chief Underwriting Officer

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    William Franchi, President

    William Franchi

    President & Chief Underwriting Officer

    Bill is President & Chief Underwriting Officer of Old Republic Specialty Insurance Underwriters, Inc. He is responsible for directing the underwriting and operational strategies for ORSIU’s Specialty Programs and Alternative Risks segments. Bill has 20 plus years of insurance and reinsurance experience. Prior to joining ORSIU, he was Senior Vice President, Head of Programs for ACE Insurance Group managing a multiline insurance program portfolio. Bill previously held various senior management roles, including underwriting, marketing, and operations with Munich Re America and GE Insurance Solutions (Industrial Risk Insurers). He earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from East Stroudsburg University.

    Trish Egan, Chief Operating Officer

    Trish Egan

    Chief Operating Officer

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    Trish Egan, Chief Operating Officer

    Trish Egan

    Chief Operating Officer

    Trish joined ORSIU in February 2015 and was previously with Munich Re America for 14 years where she most recently held the position of Senior Vice President, Head of Programs & Products. Trish also spent 12 years with Reliance Insurance Company in successive operations and client services management roles. She has a Bachelor's degree from George Washington University.

    Judith Johnson, SVP, Head of Alternative Risks

    Judith Johnson

    SVP & Head of Alternative Risks

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    Judith Johnson, SVP, Head of Alternative Risks

    Judith Johnson

    SVP & Head of Alternative Risks

    Judy is responsible for managing ORSIU's public entity and nonprofit book of business. She has 24 years of insurance and reinsurance experience, including 14 years with Munich Re America where she was most recently Senior Vice President, Head of Alternative Markets, responsible for managing a $205M GWP portfolio of public entity and nonprofit business. Previous to Munich Re, she spent nine years with Signet Star Reinsurance Company. The majority of her career has been focused exclusively in underwriting alternative market business. Judy earned her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Temple University.

    Robert Gambell, SVP, Chief Claims Officer

    Robert Gambell

    SVP & Chief Claims Officer

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    Robert Gambell, SVP, Chief Claims Officer

    Robert Gambell

    SVP & Chief Claims Officer

    Bob joined ORSIU in April 2015 as Senior Vice President and Chief Claims Officer. He has 26 years of insurance and claims administration experience. Prior to joining ORSIU, Bob spent 13 years with Engle Martin & Associates where he served as Executive Vice President of their TPA division, responsible for all claims associated with a portfolio of specialty business estimated at $250M GWP. Bob has also held leadership positions with Caliber One Management Company and GRE Insurance Group. Bob earned a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from La Salle University.

    Barb Kenyon, SVP, Head of Specialty Programs

    Barb Kenyon

    SVP & Head of Specialty Programs

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    Barb Kenyon, SVP, Head of Specialty Programs

    Barb Kenyon

    SVP & Head of Specialty Programs

    Barbara Kenyon joined ORSIU in March 2022 as Senior Vice President, Head of Specialty Programs. Barb has 30 years of underwriting and leadership both insurance and reinsurance experience. She started her career at Kemper Reinsurance as a property & casualty treaty underwriter, she then moved to XL Reinsurance where she held various roles including Head of US Auto Fac and Programs. Barb then left XL Re to launch the US Programs Division for Aspen. She spent the past 13 years of her career at Aspen where she was most recently SVP, Head of US Programs. Barb earned a BS in Economics from Eastern Illinois University in Chicago, IL.

    Russ Buckley, SVP, Chief Actuarial Officer

    Russ Buckley

    SVP & Chief Actuarial Officer

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    Russ Buckley, SVP, Chief Actuarial Officer

    Russ Buckley

    SVP & Chief Actuarial Officer

    Russ Buckley joined Old Republic Specialty Insurance Underwriters, Inc. in April 2020 as Senior Vice President and Chief Actuarial Officer. Russ has over 30 years of insurance and reinsurance experience. Prior to joining ORSIU, Russ spent four years with The Hartford where he served as the Chief Actuary for their Global Specialty division, responsible for the actuarial support of a portfolio of specialty business estimated at $2.4B GWP. Russ has also held leadership positions with AIG, XL, and Munich Reinsurance Group. Russ has a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Scranton and is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society.

    Steven Assennata, SVP, Head of Excess Casualty

    Steven Assennata

    SVP & Head of Excess Casualty

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    Steven Assennata, SVP, Head of Excess Casualty

    Steven Assennata

    SVP & Head of Excess Casualty

    Steve Assennata joined Old Republic Specialty Insurance Underwriters, Inc. in December 2022 as Senior Vice President and Head of Excess Casualty. Steve has over 30 years of insurance and reinsurance experience. Prior to joining ORSIU, Steve spent three years with IAT Insurance where he served as the SVP, Head of MGA Programs, responsible for the management of a portfolio of insurance program business estimated at $600M. Steve also held various leadership positions with Munich Re Specialty Insurance and Munich Re America. Steve has a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from New York University and holds the CPCU designation.

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