Special Section sponsored by TMPAA

The Hartford

Program categories written include: scout camps, security guards, microbreweries and brewpubs, equipment dealers, and truck manufacturing

With almost 200 years of history, The Hartford is an insurance carrier that can do it all—life, benefits, investments, as well as personal and commercial property and casualty. Within the P&C company, one of the fastest growing businesses is commercial programs. “We are proud of our heritage and capabilities,” states Deb Bibbins, vice president, captive & specialty programs. “We added 10 new programs in 2007 and are tracking to outperform that in 2008.”

The Hartford boasts a broad program appetite, both in terms of classes written and structures supported. “Flexibility is key,” says Richard Suter, assistant vice president, program business development. “We are able to accommodate almost any program operating model,” Suter explains, “whether our partner performs the underwriting function or wants to focus primarily on distribution. All services including claims, loss control and underwriting may be unbundled or performed by The Hartford. Additionally, risk sharing can be introduced into any program through the use of captives.”

Scott Stevens, assistant vice president, specialty programs, oversees a wide variety of programs involving classes such as security guards, limousines, Boy Scout camps, equipment dealers and truck manufacturing. “One of the most important aspects to a successful program,” explains Stevens, “is selecting an experienced partner with proven expertise in a particular class. This is why we have such profitable, long-standing programs—we have great agent partners.”

“One of The Hartford’s lesser known program assets is the ability to supercharge distribution by tapping into The Hartford’s retail agency network,” notes Suter. “A good example of this is a program for microbreweries and brewpubs we recently opened with Peter Whalen of the Whalen Agency in Northampton, Massachusetts. We get to benefit from Peter’s expertise as program administrator but are able to greatly widen the production base and heighten the level of marketing.”

When asked about the arrangement, Whalen remarked, “The combination of The Hartford’s powerful brand and a proactive marketing approach has really created a lot of interest in the brewery insurance products.”

With a current total of 45 programs and an aggressive goal to nearly double in size by 2012, The Hartford is committed to continued development of new program opportunities. Suter summarizes The Hartford’s program advantages, “When you choose The Hartford as a program business partner you benefit from our superior brand, financial strength, stability and top ratings. We can write on admitted or nonadmitted paper, we’re filed in all 50 states, and we have the ability to provide an all-lines solution. Combining all this with an entrepreneurial approach and superior service gives our partners a great competitive advantage in the marketplace.”

The Hartford welcomes your inquiries at (860) 547-4470 or richard.suter@thehartford.com. *