Aviva announces plans to open a new onshore operation in US Commercial Lines

Aviva has today announced plans to establish a new onshore Surplus Lines business in the US, based in New York City. This will increase Aviva’s existing access to the world’s largest Commercial Lines market and strengthen the organisation’s proposition for clients and brokers.  

This move reflects another step in Aviva’s strategy to accelerate profitable growth in its Global Corporate & Specialty (GCS) business and a priority area for the Group that builds on Aviva’s existing experience underwriting US business via its London Market platform.  

It will broaden Aviva’s reach in lines where it already has strong underwriting capability, opening access to significant volumes of in-appetite Surplus Lines Property, Casualty and Specialty business in the US domestic market. By pairing Aviva’s underwriting heritage, broker relationships and financial strength with a streamlined, technology-enabled platform, the onshore business brings Aviva closer to customers and local distribution. It will also complement the profitable US portfolio currently underwritten by UK&I GCS, accessing business that does not travel to London and existing North American presence via Aviva Canada.

Mike Karmilowicz has been appointed to lead the US business, bringing more than three decades of Commercial Lines leadership and experience building high performing teams, alongside launching and scaling specialty products. Aviva is targeting Q2 2026 to start trading, subject to obtaining the relevant regulatory approvals.

Jason Storah, Aviva’s CEO UK & Ireland General Insurance, said: "Today’s announcement is a notable step in our ambition to be a leading Global Specialty insurer. We’re building on the foundations of our US wholesale business underwritten in London and are confident about the opportunity writing in the US Surplus Lines market gives us. 

“Mike is well positioned to grow Aviva’s US business sustainably, with a track record of building and leading successful businesses across major CL markets.”

Mike Karmilowicz said: "I’m excited to build a modern, digitally enabled Surplus and Specialty Lines business backed by Aviva’s history, underwriting excellence, and trusted broker relationships. Our goal is to create a differentiated operation that offers exceptional service and delivers meaningful value to the market."

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