By James Thaler

March 21 - (The Insurer) - Newfront has hired long-time San Francisco-based Aon executive Michael Ricksen as executive vice president, an appointment that follows the arrival of recent recruits including Robert Rittenhouse from USI.

A spokesperson for Newfront confirmed Ricksen’s appointment, noting that he will play a pivotal role in expanding the retail broking insurtech’s advisory expertise.

Newfront said that Ricksen brings deep knowledge of risk strategy in the technology sector, having guided some of the most dynamic businesses in the world, ranging from emerging startups to publicly traded companies.

“As we continue to invest in industry-leading talent, Mike’s extensive knowledge and client-first approach align perfectly with Newfront’s mission,” Brian Hetherington, Newfront’s president, said in a statement.

A spokesperson for Newfront highlighted the fact that the company represents approximately 20% of U.S. unicorns and serves more than 950 venture-backed clients. Newfront added that it has collectively brought more than 1,000 companies public.

The company also said that its client roster includes what it called “many of the most innovative organisations in the world, representing 25% of the Forbes AI 50 list and 38% of the CNBC Disruptor 50 list”.

In addition, the company noted that it has introduced a slew of AI-powered solutions to make insurance more transparent and data-driven, including D&O modelling, RiskPulse and Contract Review.

As executive vice president, Ricksen is expected to work with companies of all sizes as they scale.

“These elite leaders are validating that Newfront is the best place to build an insurance career,” said Spike Lipkin, Newfront’s co-founder and CEO, in a statement.