Marsh, a global leader in insurance broking and risk advisory, has announced two significant leadership appointments to strengthen its specialized industry practices in the United States and Canada. Duncan Ellis has rejoined the firm to lead the Real Estate and Hospitality Practice, while Brian Taliaferro has been named the head of the Entertainment and Gaming Industry Practice.
Key Takeaways
- Duncan Ellis returns to Marsh as the leader of its US and Canada Real Estate and Hospitality Practice, based in New York.
- Ellis previously worked at Marsh from 1992 to 2019 and rejoins from AIG, where he was President of the Retail Property Practice.
- Brian Taliaferro will lead Marsh’s Entertainment and Gaming Industry Practice, focusing on strategy and specialized risk management for clients.
- These appointments signal Marsh's focus on deepening expertise in sectors with complex and evolving risk landscapes.
Duncan Ellis Returns to Lead Real Estate and Hospitality
Marsh has appointed Duncan Ellis to the role of US and Canada Real Estate and Hospitality Practice leader. In this position, Ellis will be responsible for overseeing the delivery of risk and insurance solutions to clients across these dynamic sectors. He will be based in the company's New York office.
This appointment marks a significant return for Ellis, who has a long and established history with the firm. He previously served as a managing director and led Marsh’s US Property Practice for nearly three decades, from 1992 until 2019. His return brings a wealth of institutional knowledge and deep industry relationships back to the company.
A Veteran's Return
Ellis rejoins Marsh after his tenure at American International Group (AIG), where he held the prominent position of President of AIG’s Retail Property Practice. His experience from both the broking and underwriting sides of the industry provides him with a unique, 360-degree perspective on the property risk landscape, which will be invaluable for Marsh's clients.
Navigating a Complex Property Market
The real estate and hospitality industries face a convergence of challenges that demand specialized expertise. These sectors are navigating economic headwinds, evolving consumer behaviors, and heightened risks associated with climate change and natural catastrophes. Owners, developers, and operators require sophisticated risk management strategies to protect their assets and ensure operational resilience.
Ellis’s extensive background in property risk is particularly relevant in the current market. His leadership will be crucial in helping clients manage everything from property damage and business interruption to liability and emerging risks like cybersecurity threats against hotel chains and property management systems.
Industry at a Glance
The global commercial real estate market is a multi-trillion dollar industry, while the hospitality sector continues its recovery and transformation post-pandemic. Both are highly sensitive to economic shifts and catastrophic events, making specialized insurance and risk advice a critical component of their business strategy.
Brian Taliaferro to Head Entertainment and Gaming
In another key appointment, Marsh has named Brian Taliaferro as the new leader for its Entertainment and Gaming Industry Practice. Taliaferro is tasked with shaping the practice's strategy, enhancing its capabilities, and ensuring a premier client experience.
His role will concentrate on addressing the highly specialized and often unique risks inherent in the entertainment and gaming industries. These sectors are characterized by rapid innovation, high-value intellectual property, and significant public-facing liability.
Specialized Risks in a High-Stakes Environment
The entertainment and gaming sectors present a unique set of challenges that differ significantly from other industries. Key areas of focus for Taliaferro's team will likely include:
- Event Cancellation: Protecting major revenue streams from the cancellation of concerts, festivals, sporting events, and film productions due to unforeseen circumstances.
- Intellectual Property: Safeguarding valuable copyrights, trademarks, and content from infringement and theft in a digital world.
- Cybersecurity: Defending gaming platforms, streaming services, and production studios from data breaches and cyber-attacks.
- Regulatory Compliance: Navigating the complex and evolving legal landscape of the gaming industry, particularly with the expansion of sports betting and online casinos.
- Liability: Managing risks associated with large crowds, performer safety, and audience welfare at live events and venues.
Taliaferro's leadership will be central to developing innovative solutions that help clients in film, television, music, sports, and gaming protect their assets and operations effectively.
Strategic Focus on Industry Specialization
The appointments of Ellis and Taliaferro underscore Marsh's strategic commitment to providing deep, industry-specific expertise. In an increasingly complex world, a one-size-fits-all approach to risk management is no longer sufficient. Clients demand advisors who understand the specific nuances, trends, and challenges of their particular sectors.
By placing seasoned leaders like Ellis and Taliaferro at the helm of these practices, Marsh is reinforcing its value proposition. The firm is signaling to the market that it has dedicated, high-level talent focused on developing tailored solutions for the real estate, hospitality, entertainment, and gaming industries.
The Importance of Practice Leaders
Industry practice leaders play a critical role in large advisory firms. They are responsible for driving growth, fostering innovation, and ensuring that the firm's resources and expertise are effectively deployed to meet the specific needs of clients within that sector. These appointments are a direct investment in the intellectual capital that serves these key industries.
As these sectors continue to evolve, the leadership of Duncan Ellis and Brian Taliaferro will be instrumental in helping Marsh's clients stay ahead of emerging risks and build more resilient enterprises for the future.
