Allianz Commercial Strengthens U.S. Construction Division with Strategic Hires

Allianz Commercial has announced a significant expansion of its U.S. Construction team, welcoming five seasoned professionals to support its rapidly growing Master Builder’s Risk portfolio. The new hires will officially join the company by mid-April and will report to Chris Fancher, United States Head of Construction Property and North America Practice Group Leader of Construction.

The move reflects Allianz Commercial’s strategic focus on construction as a high-growth market, propelled by increased government and private investment in infrastructure and energy transition projects. As part of its broader commitment, Allianz offers specialized engineering insurance solutions tailored for contractors, developers, and businesses across sectors like infrastructure, manufacturing, data centers, civil engineering, and builder’s risk.

“We are excited to welcome this exceptional group of talented and respected industry professionals to the Allianz Commercial Construction team to support the growing demand in our Master Builder’s Risk portfolio,” said Fancher. “This team will hit the ground running. With strong industry relationships, in-depth market knowledge and a proven track record of long-standing service across the national construction sector, they will drive Allianz Commercial’s growth in this strategically significant business line.”

Also commenting on the expansion, Darren Tasker, Regional Head of Construction, Americas, emphasized Allianz’s broader investment in the construction market. “Allianz Commercial is committed to investing in talent and resources to grow our core businesses. Construction is a key growth area where we can capitalize on our capabilities across multiple lines of business, including Surety, E&O, Construction Liability, and Environmental to better serve our clients,” Tasker said.

Meet the New Team Members

• Kristen Hoskinson has been appointed Executive Underwriter Team Leader, effective April 3, 2025. Based in Atlanta, she brings extensive experience from her role as Master Builder’s Risk Practice Leader and Eastern Zonal Construction Leader at AXA XL. Hoskinson previously held underwriting roles at International Marine Underwriters, Ace Group, and Zurich Financial Services.
• Emily Hernandez joins the company as Underwriting Specialist on April 14, 2025, and will be based in Chicago. She was previously an Underwriter at AXA XL, handling the Midwest region and focusing on Master Builder’s Risk and Contractor’s Equipment coverage.
• Alexander Hansen, also starting April 14, will serve as Senior Underwriter and will be based in Chicago. Hansen has held underwriting positions at AXA XL and earlier account management roles at Lockton Companies, Aon Risk Solutions, and Hub International.
• Karima Jones steps into a newly created hybrid role that combines underwriting with client service support, beginning April 3. Based in Atlanta, Jones most recently served as a Builder’s Risk Underwriter at AXA XL.
• Jared Bush-Howe joins as Senior Risk Consultant on April 3 and will be based in St. Louis, Missouri. He brings robust experience in construction risk management from his time at AXA XL and from prior roles as a Project Engineer with Hensel Phelps. Bush-Howe is a U.S. Army Veteran, having served in Operation Iraqi Freedom with the Military Police Corps.

“Joining Allianz Commercial presents an incredible opportunity for my colleagues and me to take our expertise in Master Builder’s Risk to the next level,” said Hoskinson. “Allianz Commercial’s reputation for technical excellence, global capabilities and strong client partnerships align perfectly with our holistic team approach to support Construction companies as they navigate an evolving and complex risk landscape.”

Originally reported by Allianz.