Vantage builds out construction team for launch

Vantage Group Holdings has officially launched its construction business, confirming the hiring of Jason Lamonica from Axa XL and revealed the addition of two of his former colleagues as it also reported momentum in its political risk business and expanded distribution capabilities.

The Bermuda-based start-up said that Lamonica (pictured above left) – the former profit center head of subcontractor default insurance at Axa XL – has been joined by Megan Fletcher (above center) and Lawrence Lejfer (above right) at the growing US platform of Vantage.

Fletcher joins as senior vice president and head of construction – subcontractor default insurance, with Lejfer named senior vice president and head of construction professional and pollution lines of insurance.

Both executives worked with Lamonica at Axa XL.

Vantage also highlighted further progress in the buildout of its political risk platform under Dan Riordan, who joined in May this year as head of political risk and credit.

Hires by the former Axa XL and Zurich executive include Richard Abizaid, Javier Gomez and Jamie Brache as vice presidents and senior underwriters, supported by Lila Granda as senior risk manager.

As previously reported, this month has also seen the arrival of Dane Lopes as chief commercial officer at Vantage, with a remit to lead the carrier’s insurance distribution and client management efforts, as well as supporting marketing and communications across the group.

In the US, Vantage has launched an E&S carrier, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company, that allows certain US risks to be written on its A- paper.

Commenting on the developments, Vantage CEO Greg Hendrick said: “It is exciting to see our business plan taking shape as we onboard new talent and build out our capabilities across the Vantage enterprise.

“Our team is highly energized and bringing creativity to the way we are building out our businesses, and that is proving to be very welcomed by clients and brokers.”

Hendrick added that the hire of Lopes from Everest will allow the carrier to “fine tune” its enterprise-wide distribution capabilities.

“I am very excited to continue building our partnership approach to our business, and Dane’s skills and experience will be a huge asset to Vantage as we build beyond our inaugural year as a specialty (re)insurer,” he continued.