By James Thaler

June 6 - (The Insurer) - CNA is planning to launch a standalone excess and surplus lines brand this month, after quietly building out its E&S property offering since 2021 and its casualty and professional liability offerings in more recent years, sources familiar with the matter told E&S Insurer.

The Chicago-based insurer has established independently staffed property, casualty and professional liability portfolios in the last couple of years that each stand at around several hundred million dollars of premium, backed by their own reinsurance treaties, sources said.

CNA’s wholesale distribution team includes leaders Robert Martin for wholesale property, Erika Palass for umbrella and excess casualty, Chris Clementi for financial lines and Jessica Landau for healthcare.

Mary Rimbey serves as vice president of distribution and wholesale distribution lead.

CNA has leveraged its Select brand for the product segment up until now, with plans to retire that brand later this month, while introducing a new wholesale brand identity for the new venture.

The insurer’s wholesale operation is currently operating with a relatively narrow distribution footprint open to a select number of the top U.S. wholesalers, while it remains in active discussions with additional potential distribution partners.

The E&S property operation has been around since 2021, followed by the standing up of the casualty business in 2022, and the healthcare and financial lines businesses in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Sources described CNA’s recent move to grow in the wholesale channel as a natural extension of its strategy to put a greater priority on the large account segment under former CEO Dino Robusto, with surplus lines business written on Columbia Casualty Company paper.

CNA HAS ‘INVESTED HEAVILY’ IN DEDICATED E&S TEAMS

A CNA spokesperson confirmed the general outlines of the imminent launch in a statement to E&S Insurer.

“CNA has long been a strong presence in the E&S market, providing solutions that address complex risks across many industries,” the company said in a statement.

“Over the last several years, we have invested heavily in dedicated, specialized E&S teams, underscoring our commitment to this space. Now, we’re taking the next step with the launch of a new brand, dedicated to the E&S market,” the statement continued.

“We look forward to continuing to deliver innovative solutions and exceptional service to the E&S market, with more details to be shared in the coming weeks,” it concluded.

CNA’s upcoming formal launch of a new E&S brand comes as a growing number of major insurers have established dedicated wholesale units alongside retail distribution platforms as part of a dual-distribution strategy.

Established distinct wholesale brands in recent years include Liberty Mutual’s Ironshore, Everest’s Evolution operations and Navigators at The Hartford.

CNA’s expansion in E&S comes as there has been a steady flow and greater proportion of business into the wholesale channel, which Ryan Specialty CEO Tim Turner said last week could grow from its current 25% share of U.S. P&C premium towards 40%.

Turner made those comments at the E&S Conference 2025 in New York City, as he argued that a structural shift towards the segment is under way.

“I believe the total addressable market that this group has an opportunity to capture market share is close to $200 billion in premium,” he told an audience of around 400 delegates.