RB Jones, a managing general underwriter within the H.W. Kaufman Group, has appointed Michael Hattaway as president to lead its underwriting operations. Hattaway will oversee the company’s marine, energy, property, and professional liability lines from New York City, reporting directly to H.W. Kaufman co-president Jodie Kaufman Davis.
Hattaway brings nearly 20 years of experience in the excess and surplus lines market. Before joining RB Jones, he spent close to eight years at Scion Underwriting Managers, building the startup into a national underwriting platform. He has also held leadership roles at Hallmark Financial Services, Liberty International, and W.R. Berkley’s Facultative Resources.
Jodie Kaufman Davis praised Hattaway as a seasoned leader whose expertise will play a key role in growing RB Jones. For his part, Hattaway sees the new role as a chance to expand RB Jones’ offerings to better meet the evolving needs of the market. He emphasized Kaufman’s commitment to investing in the firm to support that growth.
The move comes as the US excess and surplus lines market has been booming but recently showing signs of cooling. Direct premiums in the sector jumped to $98.2 billion in 2024 from $86.6 billion the year before. Managing general underwriting agencies like RB Jones have benefited as premiums under their management rose 15 percent to nearly $90 billion in 2024.
However, AM Best revised its forecast for the E&S market from positive to stable in late 2025, citing weaker premium growth and softening rates in property, cyber, and directors and officers liability.
Ahead of these shifts, H.W. Kaufman has been growing the RB Jones brand both internationally and domestically. In mid-2025, it consolidated its global underwriting businesses outside North America under the RB Jones name. This included rebranding the UK platform to RB Jones UK and renaming the former Node International cyber MGU as RB Jones Digital. It also launched RB Jones Global with a focus on credit, energy, and construction markets, led by former AIG executive Ed Kelly.
At home, RB Jones has introduced new products such as an allied healthcare professional liability program and expanded capacity for property and flood insurance. They have also rolled out inland marine insurance covering builders’ risk, contractor’s property, and contractor’s equipment.
With Hattaway aboard, RB Jones aims to grow its presence further and offer more solutions as the E&S market evolves.