John Zern hired to lead Ryan Specialty Benefits

Ryan Specialty Group (RSG) has hired John Zern as president and chief executive officer of Ryan Specialty Benefits.

Zern previously served as chief executive officer of Global Health Solutions and was chief executive officer for North America commercial risk and health solutions for Aon. He has more than 30 years’ experience advising clients on health and risk strategies.

In his new role he leads the development of Ryan Specialty Benefits, which focuses on wholesale benefits brokerage and managing general underwriting capabilities to serve the needs of the retail brokerage community.

Pat Ryan, founder, RSG's chairman and chief executive, said there is significant retail client appetite for employee benefits and highlighted Zern’s “excellent executive leadership, team building skills and deep technical knowledge.”

Zern said he will work closely with industry stakeholders to build Ryan Specialty Benefits into a leader in wholesale employee benefits.

“RSG is a very client-centric firm and a close-knit family which has positioned itself as an undeniable market leader in excess and surplus lines and specialty insurance,” he added. “I believe in the power of the wholesale ecosystem and know delivering distinctive employee benefits solutions is of high importance to our retail client base.”