--- title: January 2025 Buzz description: A collection of this month's most popular news, events, interviews and other stories from across Ryan Specialty. image: https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/hubfs/BuzzBlog_Jan2025_2000x1000.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/january-2025-buzz#main-content) Search search cancel-thin [![Ryan Specialty](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/hubfs/Ryan%20Specialty%20-%202022%20Logos/RyanSpecialty_RGB.svg "Ryan Specialty")](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/) cancel-thin - [Who We Are](https://ryansg.com/who-we-are/) Show submenu for Who We Are - [Our Services](https://ryansg.com/who-we-are/#companies) - [Ryan Specialty History](https://ryansg.com/who-we-are/#history) - [Chairman's Letter](https://ryansg.com/who-we-are/#chairman) - [Leadership](https://ryansg.com/who-we-are/#leadership) - [Our Approach](https://ryansg.com/our-approach/) Show submenu for Our Approach - [Our Values](https://ryansg.com/our-approach/#approach) - [Our Difference](https://ryansg.com/our-approach/#difference) - [What We Offer](https://ryansg.com/what-we-offer/) Show submenu for What We Offer - [Wholesale Brokerage](https://ryansg.com/company/rt/) - [Binding Authority](https://ryansg.com/company/binding/) - [Underwriting Management](https://ryansg.com/underwriting-management/) - [News](https://ryansg.com/news/) Show submenu for News - [News & Press Releases](https://ryansg.com/news/) - [Ryan Specialty Blog](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/) - [Careers](https://ryansg.com/careers/) - [Contact](https://ryansg.com/contact/) - [Investors](https://ir.ryansg.com/) Ryan Specialty # January 2025 Buzz 01.31.2025 ![](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BuzzBlog_Jan2025_2000x1000.jpg?width=604&height=348&name=BuzzBlog_Jan2025_2000x1000.jpg) Share [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/january-2025-buzz&textJanuary%202025%20Buzz) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/january-2025-buzz) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/january-2025-buzz&title=January%202025%20Buzz) [Mail to](mailto:?subject=January%202025%20Buzz&body=https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/january-2025-buzz) After another busy month at Ryan Specialty, we have put together a collection of the most popular news, events, interviews and other stories from across our firm. Catch up with us by taking a look at the posts below! JANUARY 2025 BUZZ Ryan Specialty announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Velocity Risk. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Velocity is a leading managing general underwriter providing first-party insurance coverage for catastrophe-exposed properties and will become a part of Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers. Read the press release [here](https://ryanspecialty.com/news/ryan-specialty-signs-definitive-agreement-to-acquire-velocity-risk-underwriters/).   [![Velocity Buzz Blog Image](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Velocity%20Buzz%20Blog%20Image.png?width=600&height=338&name=Velocity%20Buzz%20Blog%20Image.png)](https://ryanspecialty.com/news/ryan-specialty-signs-definitive-agreement-to-acquire-velocity-risk-underwriters/) RT Specialty is pleased to announce new RT Binding Authority office president appointments effective January 1, 2025. Congratulations to all the new presidents! You can view the appointments [here](https://ryanspecialty.com/news/rt-specialty-announces-office-president-appointments-for-rt-binding-authority/). [![Office Presidents Buzz Blog Image](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Office%20Presidents%20Buzz%20Blog%20Image.png?width=600&height=338&name=Office%20Presidents%20Buzz%20Blog%20Image.png)](https://ryanspecialty.com/news/rt-specialty-announces-office-president-appointments-for-rt-binding-authority/) Ryan Specialty is pleased to announce that distinguished industry veteran Chris Newby has joined the firm as General Counsel of Ryan Specialty International. Chris, who will succeed Carin Verhagen in that role following her retirement, is based in Ryan Specialty’s international headquarters in London. Congratulations to Carin on an illustrious legal career and welcome to Chris! Read the press release [here](https://ryanspecialty.com/news/ryan-specialty-hires-distinguished-industry-veteran-chris-newby-to-succeed-carin-verhagen-as-general-counsel-of-ryan-specialty-international/). [![Newby Buzz Blog Image](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Newby%20Buzz%20Blog%20Image.png?width=600&height=338&name=Newby%20Buzz%20Blog%20Image.png)](https://ryanspecialty.com/news/ryan-specialty-hires-distinguished-industry-veteran-chris-newby-to-succeed-carin-verhagen-as-general-counsel-of-ryan-specialty-international/) Ryan Specialty announced that Justin Budd has joined Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers. Justin will serve as Senior Vice President and Head of Internal Consulting, bringing with him many years of insurance experience from across the industry. Read the press release [here](https://ryanspecialty.com/news/justin-budd-joins-ryan-specialty-underwriting-managers-as-svp-head-of-internal-consulting/). [![Budd Buzz Blog Image](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Budd%20Buzz%20Blog%20Image.png?width=600&height=338&name=Budd%20Buzz%20Blog%20Image.png)](https://ryanspecialty.com/news/justin-budd-joins-ryan-specialty-underwriting-managers-as-svp-head-of-internal-consulting/) Ryan Specialty is pleased to announce that Sean Ryan has joined Ryan Re Underwriting Managers, a managing general underwriter focused on property and casualty treaty reinsurance. Sean will serve as Executive Vice President and lead Ryan Re’s strategic business development, building upon the strong reinsurance business Ryan Re has created since its founding in 2019. Read the press release [here](https://ryanspecialty.com/news/sean-ryan-joins-ryan-re-as-executive-vice-president-to-lead-strategic-business-development/). [![Sean Ryan Buzz Blog Image](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Sean%20Ryan%20Buzz%20Blog%20Image.png?width=600&height=338&name=Sean%20Ryan%20Buzz%20Blog%20Image.png)](https://ryanspecialty.com/news/sean-ryan-joins-ryan-re-as-executive-vice-president-to-lead-strategic-business-development/) If you weren't able to join RT ProExec's Top 10 D&O Stories of 2024 webinar with Kevin LaCroix, Marissa Streckfus and Christopher Bertola, you can watch the full recording [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lsHaBpoaa8).  [![D&O Stories 2024 Buzz Blog Image](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/D%26O%20Stories%202024%20Buzz%20Blog%20Image.png?width=600&height=338&name=D%26O%20Stories%202024%20Buzz%20Blog%20Image.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lsHaBpoaa8) Thank you to everyone who joined RT Specialty Small Fleet Transportation, RT Connector and RT Environmental & Construction Professional for their "Cheers to You" event in Malvern, PA. What a great kickoff to the new year! [![Cheers to You Buzz Blog Image](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Cheers%20to%20You%20Buzz%20Blog%20Image.png?width=600&height=338&name=Cheers%20to%20You%20Buzz%20Blog%20Image.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7284982139052335105) Congratulations to SUITELIFE Underwriting Managers, Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers' hospitality-focused MGU, on 15 years of providing innovative insurance solutions and risk management programs for hotels, resorts and hotel management companies. Happy anniversary! Read the letter from SUITELIFE President John Welty below. [![Screenshot 2025-01-31 100735](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-01-31%20100735.png?width=672&height=874&name=Screenshot%202025-01-31%20100735.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7285717525370138625)   Topics: [Ryan Specialty,](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/tag/ryan-specialty) [FEATURED,](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/tag/featured) [News](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/tag/news) ## Related Content [![](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BuzzBlog_Dec2024_2000x1000.jpg?width=352&name=BuzzBlog_Dec2024_2000x1000.jpg)](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/december-2024-buzz) [Ryan Specialty](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/author/ryan-specialty) [December 2024 Buzz](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/december-2024-buzz) [![](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Buzz%20Monthly%20News%20Recap%20Blog%20Pix/BuzzBlog_Nov2022_2000x1000.jpg?width=352&name=BuzzBlog_Nov2022_2000x1000.jpg)](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/a-collection-of-this-months-most-popular-news-events-interviews-and-other-stories-from-across-ryan-specialty-0-0) [Ryan Specialty](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/author/ryan-specialty) [November 2022 Buzz](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/a-collection-of-this-months-most-popular-news-events-interviews-and-other-stories-from-across-ryan-specialty-0-0) [![](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BuzzBlog_Feb2025_2000x1000.jpg?width=352&name=BuzzBlog_Feb2025_2000x1000.jpg)](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/february-2025-buzz) [Ryan Specialty](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/author/ryan-specialty) [February 2025 Buzz](https://blog.ryanspecialty.com/february-2025-buzz) - Company Show submenu for Company - [Who We Are](https://ryansg.com/who-we-are/) - [Our Companies](https://ryansg.com/who-we-are/#companies) - [Our Team](https://ryansg.com/who-we-are/#chairman) - Specialties Show submenu for Specialties - [Wholesale Brokerage](https://ryansg.com/company/rt/) - [Binding Authority](https://ryansg.com/company/binding/) - [Underwriting Management](https://ryansg.com/underwriting-management/) - Stay in Touch Show submenu for Stay in Touch - [Careers](https://ryansg.com/careers/) - [News](https://ryansg.com/news/) - [Contact](https://ryansg.com/contact/) Connect with us [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ryan-specialty-group/) [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/RSG_insurance) [Follow us on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCew824sPCrKcGoeGBbwFF4A) [SUBSCRIBE TO RYAN SPECIALTY NEWS](https://get.ryansg.com/email-subscription) © 2026 All rights reserved. - [LEGAL](https://ryansg.com/legal/) - [PRIVACY](https://ryansg.com/privacy/) - [EUROPEAN OPERATING MODEL](https://ryansg.com/ryan-specialty-group-europe-post-brexit-european-operating-model/)