Hallmark Financial Services Inc., a publicly traded insurance holding company headquartered in Fort Worth, has launched its new Hallmark Specialty Property operating unit.
The new operating unit will initially offer excess and surplus commercial property insurance products, distributed exclusively through designated wholesale brokers. The unit will focus on shared and layered property programs. Product offerings will include primary, excess and quota share placements, including dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) programs for veterans, single peril contracts and deductible buy-back programs.
President of the new Hallmark operating unit is Gerald A. Dupre Jr., a 38-year veteran in the property insurance industry. Prior to joining Hallmark, Dupre was the senior vice president of Americas property and general property global property practice leader for Torus Insurance Co. His experience also includes developing the risk management property unit and management of the excess and surplus property unit for Axis Insurance Co. He led the U.S.-based global, domestic and reverse-flow property portfolios for Allianz Global Risk U.S. as well as serving in multiple management roles for Fireman’s Fund, Home Insurance and The St. Paul Companies, where he started his career.
“Joining Hallmark has been a great opportunity to develop a new operation. We have already developed a strong core of underwriting and support talent and are looking forward to growing and expanding the business and its offerings,” Dupre said. Dupre and his team are located in Atlanta, Ga.
“Gerald’s experience and in depth knowledge of property risks makes him uniquely qualified to lead and develop our new specialty property insurance unit,” said Naveen Anand, president and CEO of Hallmark Financial Services. “We are excited about the products our new operating unit will bring to our wholesale brokerage partners.”
Hallmark Financial Services, through its subsidiaries, engages in the sale of property/casualty insurance products to businesses and individuals. Hallmark’s common stock is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “HALL.”