The Florida-based homeowner’s company was the fastest growing P&C Insurer in 2013 and 2014
On the heels of its announcement earlier this summer that it would be entering the Massachusetts marketplace, Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Company has appointed its first Director of Sales & Marketing for Massachusetts. Massachusetts insurance industry veteran, Peter J. Hutchinson, CIC, has joined the Florida-based insurer as its new Director of Sales & Marketing for Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
“We are pleased that Pete (“Hutch”) Hutchinson has joined Heritage to spearhead our move into Massachusetts and Rhode Island,” said Mel Russell, CIC, Chief Underwriting Officer and Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Heritage. “Hutch is highly respected and brings over 30 years of experience working with independent agents in both states. We are thrilled to have someone of his caliber to lead our move into these new states.”
Prior to his new position with Heritage P&C, Mr. Hutchinson was the Director of Sales for UPC Insurance. Over the course of his thirty-plus career, Mr. Hutchinson has held positions at various Massachusetts insurers including Norfolk & Dedham, Commerce and Safeco.
In his new position with Heritage P&C, Mr. Hutchinson will spearhead the company’s efforts in the Commonwealth. Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Heritage, offers homeowner’s, condo, rental property and commercial residential insurance as well as an identity theft product through independent insurance agents.
As of December 31, 2014, Heritage had approximately 207,000 personal residential policies in force representing $400 million of annualized premium and approximately 2,400 commercial residential policies in force representing $95 million of annualized premium.
In Florida, Heritage markets its personal lines voluntary policies through a network of approximately 1,300 independent agents. Approximately 55% of its 1300 agents were acquired from agency networks. Heritage expects to expand its independent agent network in Massachusetts and the additional states where it is seeking admission.
Earlier this summer, Heritage applied with the Division of Insurance for entry into the Massachusetts marketplace. With Mr. Hutchinson’s appointment, the company appears to be preparing to hit the ground running once the Division approves the company’s pending application to do business in Massachusetts.