People Moves: Andersen to Lead Nationwide Agribusiness Distribution; Ascot Names Eppers Group Chief Investment Officer; Baron Joins Zurich as US Head of Energy

Andersen named leader of Nationwide Agribusiness Distribution and Underwriting

Nationwide named Nick Andersen as the new leader of agribusiness distribution and underwriting, following Dirk Pollitt’s retirement. Effective July 1, Andersen will lead Nationwide’s farm, ranch and commercial agribusiness sales and underwriting teams and oversee operational work that influences business performance.

Andersen currently serves as vice president of agribusiness claims and strategic transformation and brings more than 25 years of insurance experience to his new role.

Ascot Appoints Eppers as Group Chief Investment Officer

Ascot Group Limited appointed Joseph Eppers as group chief investment officer and a member of the company’s global executive committee.

Eppers leads Ascot’s global investment strategy and oversees its investment portfolio. He will report to Mark Wilcox, Ascot Group Chief Financial Officer.

Eppers has more than 25 years of industry experience and joins Ascot from Selective Insurance, where he served as executive vice president and chief investment officer, overseeing the company’s investment portfolio and strategy. Previously, he worked as a director at BlackRock in the Financial Institutions Group, responsible for providing customized strategic investment solutions for insurance and other institutional clients, and served as senior vice president of investments at Endurance Specialty Holdings, Inc.

Energy industry veteran Alex Baron joined Zurich as U.S. head of energy. From his Houston, Texas, base, Baron will report to Tracey Hunt, global head of energy and marine within Zurich’s Global Specialty business.

Baron oversees the technical and strategic direction of Zurich’s U.S. Energy business, which includes property and casualty solutions spanning oil and gas, petrochemical, natural resources, mining, power generation and utilities, and renewable energy.

Baron has over 15 years of leadership experience in energy underwriting and portfolio management. He most recently served as head of energy for AIG’s South region. Prior to that, he was director of property for Phillips 66. He earlier held roles with Swiss Re, CNA and Aon Risk Services.