W. R. Berkley Corporation forms Berkley Meridian, a specialty insurance business combining Verus Specialty Insurance and Vela Insurance Services under a shared leadership structure and strategic vision. Marlo M. Morrison takes the role of president of Berkley Meridian. The business brings together underwriting capabilities, leadership talent and expertise across construction, professional liability, garage, casualty and other specialty lines, with a continued focus on the excess and surplus (E&S) wholesale broker market. Integration has begun and is expected to continue into early 2027. Morrison joined Verus Specialty Insurance as president in 2019 and has nearly 30 years of experience in the property and casualty insurance industry, with a background in operations and expertise across primary and excess liability, professional lines and reinsurance. W. Robert Berkley Jr, chairman, chief executive officer and president of W. R. Berkley Corporation, says: “Berkley Meridian will create a powerful combination of two exceptional teams, allowing us to further leverage our expertise to provide a broader and deeper suite of solutions.” W. R. Berkley Corporation was founded in 1967 and operates worldwide in two segments of the property casualty insurance business: Insurance, and Reinsurance & Monoline Excess.
