Stewart Specialty Risk Underwriting Ltd. Launches Primary Casualty Division, Appoints Joe Renton as Vice President
TORONTO, ON, JUNE 16, 2025/insPRESS/ – Stewart Specialty Risk Underwriting Ltd. (SSRU) is pleased to announce the launch of its new Primary Casualty Division, a strategic expansion that deepens the firm’s capabilities in casualty underwriting. As part of this launch, SSRU welcomes Joe Renton as Vice President, Primary Casualty, to lead the new division.
“This launch reflects a natural extension of our expertise in casualty underwriting,” said Stephen Stewart, President & CEO. “We are not entering this space as a generalist—we’re applying the same disciplined, severity-focused approach that has earned us credibility in the excess casualty market. Joe understands that approach. His combination of technical insight and practical execution makes him the right person to lead this next phase of our growth.”
Joe brings nearly 15 years of experience in the casualty insurance market, having held positions as both an underwriter and a broker. Most recently, he served as Underwriting Manager – Large Commercial Casualty at a large international carrier, where he led a national team overseeing liability and automobile lines and was responsible for managing the casualty portfolio for large and complex risks. His expertise includes product development, manuscript wording, strategic growth planning, client relationship management, and the placement of complex risks across various sectors, including manufacturing, professional services, construction, energy, and natural resources. He has also held previous roles with Zurich, Aon, and McLean-Hallmark.
“This is a unique opportunity to build something deliberately and with purpose,” said Joe Renton, Vice President, Primary Casualty. “The market wants underwriting that reflects sound judgment and a real grasp of risk complexity. That’s what SSRU is known for, and I’m looking forward to applying that standard in the primary space.”
The Primary Casualty Program is built around SSRU’s core underwriting philosophy: a focus on high-severity, low-frequency sectors where specialized knowledge and judgment drive results. Target industries include Manufacturing, Construction, Financial Services, Professional Services, Natural Resources, Energy, Utilities, Warehousing, Wholesale, and Agriculture.
“Our approach is measured and intentional,” said Victor Ip, Senior Vice President, Casualty. “We are focused on long-term success; expanding where we see opportunity, and only in areas where we know we can lead. This is about thoughtful, informed underwriting rooted in genuine sector expertise.”
This expansion complements SSRU’s well-established Excess Casualty portfolio and positions the firm as a full-spectrum casualty underwriting platform, grounded in technical credibility, broker support, and risk-focused leadership.
About SSRU
Stewart Specialty Risk Underwriting Ltd. (SSRU) is a Canadian Managing General Agent/Underwriter headquartered in Toronto. Founded in 2016, SSRU specializes in complex, high-severity insurance placements across key sectors, including Construction, Manufacturing, Natural Resources, Public Entity, Realty, and Transportation.
