Category: Corporate News

CAMDEN, N.J., 27 May 2026 — Conner Strong & Buckelew, an insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting firm, today announced that Derek Martisus has joined the organization as Partner, Alternative Risk and National Captive Leader.

Martisus has more than 22 years of experience in captive solutions, working with clients in all major U.S. captive domiciles as well as in the Cayman Islands and Bermuda, on captive strategies across industries. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President at Marsh McLennan Agency, where he focused on single-parent and group captive solutions within the Captive Risk Practice.

In his new role, Martisus will work with colleagues across Conner Strong & Buckelew and BroadStreet Partners member companies to help clients protect and grow their businesses and gain greater control over insurance costs and risk management programs.

“Derek’s expertise in advising clients on captive solutions has helped them navigate volatility, improve their bottom line and enhance their overall risk management programs,” said Terry Tracy, co-President and National Commercial Insurance Leader at Conner Strong & Buckelew. “We are delighted to add Derek’s leadership and unique experience, as we expand our captive practice and continue developing tailored solutions to meet the needs of our clients.”

Martisus is an Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Arts from Binghamton University.

About Conner Strong & Buckelew

Founded in 1959, Conner Strong & Buckelew is a privately held firm headquartered in Camden, N.J. The company provides businesses in the United States and abroad with commercial insurance and employee benefits solutions. Since 2021, it has operated autonomously as a member of BroadStreet Partners, an insurance brokerage holding company. Together with BroadStreet Partners, it is among the nation’s 13 largest insurance brokerages.

Conner Strong & Buckelew national headquarters: TRIAD1828 CENTRE, 2 Cooper St., Camden, NJ 08102

For more information, visit www.connerstrong.com or follow the company on LinkedIn (@ConnerStrong&Buckelew), Facebook (@connerstrongbuckelew) and Instagram (@connerstrongbuckelew).

CAMDEN, N.J. – April 13, 2026 – Conner Strong & Buckelew, a leading insurance brokerage, risk management, and employee benefits consulting firm, today announced that Riham El-Lakany has joined the organization as Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales Enablement. She brings more than 25 years of experience across marketing, communications, and sales enablement, with a distinguished career primarily in the insurance and risk management sector.

Over the course of her career, El-Lakany has held senior marketing and leadership roles at Marsh, AIG, Chubb, and Zurich, where she advanced strategic marketing initiatives, strengthened brand positioning, and supported business development across multiple lines of business. At Conner Strong & Buckelew, El-Lakany will lead all aspects of corporate marketing, brand, advertising, public relations, and sales enablement. She will oversee a team of marketing specialists supporting all business units and functions and will be responsible for delivering contemporary, creative, and differentiated messaging that reflects the firm’s brand and value proposition.

“Riham is a seasoned veteran who brings a wealth of experience to our corporate marketing and sales enablement function,” said Joe DiBella, Co-President of Conner Strong & Buckelew. “Business leaders and clients today consume information about employee benefits and property/casualty brokerage and consulting services very differently than they did just a few years ago. Riham has the ideal combination of business-to-business experience in the insurance and financial services segments to ensure our marketing and messaging reach the right audiences through the right channels, while clearly differentiating our brand and value proposition in the marketplace. We are delighted to have her on the team.”

“I am excited to join Conner Strong & Buckelew and contribute to a firm known for its innovation, client focus, and strong culture,” El-Lakany said. “I look forward to working closely with leadership and teams across the organization to further elevate the brand and support continued growth.”

El-Lakany holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the American University in Cairo and a master’s degree in economics from New York University. She will be based in the firm’s headquarters in Camden, N.J.

Conner Strong & Buckelew continues to invest in top-tier talent and innovative capabilities as part of its commitment to delivering best-in-class advisory services and solutions to clients nationwide

About Conner Strong & Buckelew

Founded in 1959, Conner Strong & Buckelew is a privately held firm headquartered in Camden, NJ. We are an industry leader in providing complex businesses in the United States and abroad with commercial insurance and employee benefits solutions. Since 2021 we have been an autonomously operated member of BroadStreet Partners, an insurance brokerage holding company. Collectively with BroadStreet Partners, we are among the nation’s 13 largest insurance brokerages.

Conner Strong & Buckelew, National Headquarters, TRIAD1828 CENTRE, 2 Cooper Street, Camden, NJ 08102

For more information, visit www.connerstrong.com or follow us on LinkedIn (@ConnerStrong&Buckelew), Facebook (@connerstrongbuckelew) and Instagram (@connerstrongbuckelew).

New York, NY (March 30, 2026) — Conner Strong & Buckelew, one of the nation’s premier property and casualty consulting and brokerage firms, today announced that Brian Shea has joined the organization as Sr Partner, National Construction Practice. A nationally recognized construction and casualty expert, Shea brings more than 31 years of industry experience to the firm. Most recently, he served as Resident Managing Director for the New York City metropolitan area at Aon, where he led a substantial portfolio of complex commercial accounts and directed the firm’s construction practice within one of the most demanding and sophisticated risk environments in the country. In that role, Shea was responsible for strategic client advisory services, portfolio growth, carrier negotiations, and the design and placement of highly customized risk management programs for major contractors, developers, and construction managers.

Prior to Aon, Shea spent over 15 years at Arch Insurance, where he served as Senior Vice President and National Underwriting Manager of the Construction Casualty vertical. He provided leadership and oversight for one of the industry’s most significant construction casualty portfolios, underwriting and managing many of the company’s largest and most complex accounts nationwide. Earlier in his career, Shea was a Regional Manager at AIG, further strengthening his foundation in underwriting leadership and casualty risk management. Shea holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Villanova University and a Master of Business Administration in Management from Saint Peter’s University.

“Brian’s deep expertise in construction and complex program design significantly enhances our capabilities,” said Terry Tracy, Co-President and National Property/Casualty Leader for Conner Strong & Buckelew. “His national reputation and experience advising large-scale construction clients align seamlessly with our commitment to delivering sophisticated, consultative risk solutions.” Shea joins an established Conner Strong & Buckelew team with extensive expertise across construction, real estate, and other industry verticals. The firm advises many of the nation’s largest organizations and has significant experience structuring and managing large Owner Controlled Insurance Programs (OCIP) and Contractor Controlled Insurance Programs (CCIP), along with other complex wrap-up structures.

Shea will be headquartered in the firm’s New York City office and will play a key role in expanding Conner Strong & Buckelew’s commercial insurance portfolio and construction practice nationally.

About Conner Strong & Buckelew

Founded in 1959, Conner Strong & Buckelew is a privately held firm headquartered in Camden, NJ. We are an industry leader in providing complex businesses in the United States and abroad with commercial insurance and employee benefits solutions. Since 2021 we have been an autonomously operated member of BroadStreet Partners, an insurance brokerage holding company. Collectively with BroadStreet Partners, we are among the nation’s 13 largest insurance brokerages.

Conner Strong & Buckelew, National Headquarters, TRIAD1828 CENTRE, 2 Cooper Street, Camden, NJ 08102

For more information, visit www.connerstrong.com or follow us on LinkedIn (@ConnerStrong&Buckelew), Facebook (@connerstrongbuckelew) and Instagram (@connerstrongbuckelew).

New Product Shortage PLUS Endorsement fills a critical coverage gap for injury-related claims arising from product unavailability or delivery failures

CAMDEN, NJ (November 3, 2025) – Conner Strong & Buckelew (CSB), one of the nation’s leading insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firms, announced a new insurance solution aimed at reducing risk caused by unforeseen product shortages or delivery failures in the cell and gene therapy space. The Product Shortage PLUS Endorsement is now available for purchase within the BioPro program Clinical Trials Liability insurance policy from Citadel Insurance. Coverage addresses the unique challenges of injury-related claims arising from investigational product unavailability.

“Cell and gene therapies are transforming the healthcare landscape with pioneering new treatments and solutions, but the process is time-sensitive, posing significant risks and challenges,” said Daniel S. Brettler, Senior Partner, National Life Science & Technology Practice Leader. “This policy endorsement, available only through Conner Strong & Buckelew, fills a critical gap that’s not addressed by general or product liability policies—providing protection aligned with the complex supply dynamics and individualized dosing models of cell and gene therapy.”

Delays or shortfalls in product availability, even when outside an organization’s control, are a significant exposure. Current liability insurance policies either do not address this exposure or fall short of fully protecting the insured. The Product Shortage PLUS Endorsement addresses risks in the sequence of collection, transportation, storage, and manufacturing of cell and gene therapy products for clinical trials when treatments become unavailable.

The Product Shortage PLUS Endorsement was developed in consultation with Cell One Partners Inc., a world leader in helping cell and gene therapy companies advance and achieve growth objectives toward commercialization quickly and efficiently.

“The cell and gene therapy process has several critical risk points that can derail treatment, cause patient harm, or result in significant financial losses,” said Gregory J. MacMichael, Ph.D. at Cell One Partners. “The organizations that recognize and address these underestimated risks now will have significant competitive advantages as the industry scales from thousands to hundreds of thousands of patients annually.”

This groundbreaking new coverage addresses four distinct exposure areas, including:

1. Patient Claims when promised therapies are not delivered for a covered reason.
2. Operational Failure Claims such as destruction in transit or FDA rationing,
3. Legal Defense Coverage to help mitigate costly litigation risks and
4. Compliance Continuity to reduce legal exposure under ICH, GCP and FDA guidance.

This breakthrough coverage is offered exclusively through Conner Strong & Buckelew and is currently available to new and existing clients.

About Conner Strong & Buckelew

Founded in 1959, Conner Strong & Buckelew is a privately held firm headquartered in Camden, NJ. We are an industry leader in providing complex businesses in the United States and abroad with commercial insurance and employee benefits solutions. Since 2021 we have been an autonomously operated member of BroadStreet Partners, an insurance brokerage holding company. Collectively with BroadStreet Partners, we are among the nation’s 13 largest insurance brokerages.

Conner Strong & Buckelew, National Headquarters, TRIAD1828 CENTRE, 2 Cooper Street, Camden, NJ 08102

For more information, visit www.connerstrong.com or follow us on LinkedIn (@ConnerStrong&Buckelew), Facebook (@connerstrongbuckelew) and Instagram (@connerstrongbuckelew)

About Cell One Partners Inc.

Cell One Partners Inc. (www.cellonepartners.com) is a strategic consulting firm specializing in the cell and gene therapy sector within the biotechnology industry. Founded in 2018, the firm offers a range of advisory services to support cell and gene therapy companies, along with their investors in their product development and commercialization pathway. These services include clinical plan development, market and science assessment, regulatory approval process strategy, process development, vendor contract management, manufacturing, commercialization and human capital management. Cell One Partners is dedicated to helping companies and their investors navigate the complexities of the cell and gene therapy landscape, from laboratory research to regulatory approval and commercialization.

Milwaukee, WI — August 14, 2025 — BrokerPRO^TM, a leading provider of real-time, high-precision insurance insight and AI solutions, is proud to welcome C2 Solutions (C2) and several of its equity owners – among them M3 Insurance Solutions, Inc., Conner Strong & Buckelew, Cross Insurance, McGohan Brabender, Sterling Seacrest Pritchard, and The Partners Group – to its growing community of subscribers. This partnership further demonstrates BrokerPRO’s mission to empower insurance brokers with credible national benchmarking data and innovative AI tools that drive performance, growth, and profitability.

“We are thrilled to welcome C2 Solutions and its member firms to the BrokerPRO community,” said Nezih Hasanoglu Jr., President of BrokerPRO. “Their adoption of our platform reflects the growing demand for data-driven solutions across the insurance industry. We’re excited to help them reach new levels of operational excellence and client service.” The partnership gives C2 firms direct access to BrokerPRO’s PRO Suite, an integrated platform that includes BenchmarkPRO, a trusted source for national benchmarking insights, and GenPRO, a state of the art, private and secure generative AI solution that has proven to free up, on average, 20% of users’ time through analysis and comparison of policies, quotes and other insurance documents. These tools are designed to increase efficiency, reduce administrative costs, and elevate the overall client experience.

With enhanced access to actionable insights and advanced tools, C2 firms can now operate with the same speed, precision, and strategic clarity as the largest national brokerages — empowering them to compete more effectively and grow their businesses with confidence.

“The insurance industry is undergoing rapid transformation, and staying ahead means having the right data at the right time,” said Kristen Boyd, Executive Director at C2. “With BrokerPRO, our member firms gain real-time intelligence and streamlined tools that empower them to lead with confidence.”

This collaboration represents a strategic advancement for C2 member firms, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions, build stronger client relationships, and drive growth.

For more information about BrokerPRO and the PRO Suite, visit: https://brokerproai.com/.

About BrokerPRO
BrokerPRO^TM provides real-time, high-precision insurance data products engineered for performance and profit. Developed by brokers for brokers, BrokerPRO is transforming how brokers win and retain business by offering credible, trusted national benchmarking insights and AI-driven solutions.

About Conner Strong & Buckelew
Founded in 1959, Conner Strong & Buckelew is a privately held firm headquartered in Camden, NJ. An industry leader in providing complex businesses with comprehensive consulting and brokerage solutions for commercial insurance and employee benefits, we have unique resources and expertise in a variety of areas, including captive and alternative risk solutions, owner and contractor-controlled insurance programs, risk control services, claims advocacy and consulting, population health, data analytics, benefit consortiums and technology-driven solutions.

For more information, visit www.connerstrong.com or follow us on LinkedIn (@ConnerStrong&Buckelew), Facebook (@connerstrongbuckelew) and Instagram (@connerstrongbuckelew).