United Risk strengthens global leadership, names new CEO

Michael Davis ; 2025-11-30 13:12:10

Company strengthens its executive team as it reaches its two-year milestone

Insurance News

By Josh Recamara

Nov 24, 2025Share

United Risk marked its two-year milestone since its formation in 2023 by announcing key executive appointments and leadership promotions.

Chairman Jamie Sahara highlighted the company's growth, noting its position among the top five MGAs globally, with 25 property and casualty underwriting programs and nearly 600 staff across nine countries and four continents.

Hayden Smith has been promoted to CEO, bringing extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions and ceded reinsurance from his time at Enstar Group and StarStone. Smith’s leadership is expected to drive strategic direction across United Risk’s international operations, including offices in New York, Bermuda, London, Paris, Dubai, Singapore, and Sydney.

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Andrew Lucas joins as general counsel, bringing expertise in corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and insurance-sector regulatory matters from his tenure at Clyde & Co LLP. Lucas will also oversee legal and compliance frameworks critical to the MGA's multinational business.

Gregg Holtmeier takes on the role of chief commercial officer, focusing on relationships with capital providers such as reinsurers, insurers and sidecar capacity. His prior experience as chief strategy officer at BMS and global head of casualty at JLT Re equips him to manage and expand United Risk's commercial partnerships effectively, it was stated.

Patrick Watson joins as chief operating officer, leveraging more than 21 years of experience in insurance operations, program development and scaling complex organizations. His focus will be on operational efficiency and infrastructure to support United Risk's expanding underwriting programs.

President Rick Christofer continues to lead relationships with underwriters, agents, and brokers, now with greater bandwidth to focus on client-facing growth thanks to the strengthened C-suite. Christofer’s background includes roles at AIG Private Client Group, Guy Carpenter, General Reinsurance, and The Hartford.

Sahara emphasized that these appointments complete the leadership team, and provide a robust framework.