#USA #San Francisco #GI Partners #Brad Emmons #Brian Hanuschak

GI Partners Introduces Innovative MGA Platform

In a significant move within the insurance sector, GI Partners, an esteemed private investment firm, announced the launch of its tech-enabled Managing General Agency (MGA) platform. This initiative is a collaboration with highly respected veterans of the insurance industry, Brad Emmons and Brian Hanuschak, who together bring over 50 years of experience in building and expanding insurance enterprises.

Vision for the Future

The new MGA platform is geared towards acquiring and developing a diversified collection of MGAs that span various lines of coverage. The strategic approach emphasizes underwriting excellence, technology-enhanced operations, and a robust service orientation aimed at carriers, brokers, and policyholders. This focus is expected to create a dynamic environment where innovation drives growth and efficiency.

Brad Emmons, co-founder of Orchid Underwriters, has a proven track record, having successfully led the company through organic growth, acquisitions, and private equity recapitalizations before its sale to Brown & Brown in 2022. His latest role was as CEO of Forza Insurance Holdings, a property reciprocal, and he serves on the boards of several leading insurance service firms. Emmons expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “GI Partners has a strong track record of building growth platforms. We are excited to partner with MGA founders to accelerate their growth, strengthen capabilities through technology and analytics, and bring differentiated solutions to market.”

Brian Hanuschak, another pillar in this initiative, has over 30 years of leadership experience in the insurance industry, notably as the CEO of Victor Insurance Managers, a subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan. Under his guidance, Victor emerged as one of the largest underwriting managers globally, overseeing premiums exceeding $3 billion annually. Hanuschak noted, “I'm thrilled to support the next generation of MGA leaders alongside GI Partners. Innovation, scale, and culture will define the winners in this space, and we're committed to helping entrepreneurs thrive.”

Operational Expertise

The collaboration between GI Partners and the experienced leadership of Emmons and Hanuschak is poised to harness GI's deep operational expertise and successful history with insurance investments, which includes notable firms like Insurity and Patriot Growth Insurance Services. The goal is to establish a high-performance, tech-driven MGA platform that has a national reach.

Steve Johnson, Director at GI Partners, identified the immense potential in the MGA market, asserting, “We see significant opportunity in the MGA market, where specialized underwriting and scalable technology drive real differentiation.” Johnson explained that the firm is on the lookout for diverse opportunities across the MGA landscape, which could range from founder-led enterprises to corporate spin-offs and sponsor-backed businesses. He believes that Emmons and Hanuschak are exceptionally positioned to identify and scale promising MGAs.

Hoon Cho, Managing Director and Co-Head of Private Equity at GI Partners, emphasized the firm's long-standing commitment to creating exceptional companies, looking forward to their collaboration with Emmons and Hanuschak in building a competitive MGA platform. He stated, “This launch reflects GI's long-standing ambition to build great companies.”

Conclusion

With GI Partners at the helm and the expertise of industry leaders like Emmons and Hanuschak, this new MGA venture aims to create compelling value not just for carrier partners but also for management, employees, and investors alike. As the insurance landscape evolves, this partnership is strategically positioned to redefine the framework of insurance technology and services, paving the way for a new era of growth and opportunity in the MGA sector.