By Isha Marathe

March 4 - (The Insurer) - Colorado-based MGT Insurance, previously CM Select, has appointed Joe Barneson as head of engineering and Eric Bloedorn as head of data and technical product.

Barneson, who has over a decade of experience in leading technology initiatives at various companies, served as chief technology officer at Bunker and vice president of engineering at Bold Penguin. At MGT, he will spearhead the development of advanced technological systems to enhance efficiency and scalability.

Bloedorn brings over a decade of experience in insurance, technology and data at various companies. Most recently, he served as director of product management at Bold Penguin, where he led transformative initiatives that streamlined insurance quoting and underwriting processes. At MGT, Bloedorn will oversee data strategy and technical product innovation.

Michael Topol, co-CEO and co-founder of MGT, said: “We are at a critical juncture in our development and their addition to our team marks a significant step forward in our mission to apply AI and Big Data to revolutionize insurance for small businesses across the country."

In January, PE-backed MGT Insurance launched a new excess and surplus lines company called MGT Specialty, spearheaded by newly hired general manager and industry veteran Chad Nitschke, E&S Insurer revealed. Also in January, the neo-insurer added Zachary Kruth, former head of finance at Newfront Insurance, as its COO, along with Niall Fitzgerald, former vice president of product at Kemper, as its head of new verticals.