RLI Launches Design Professionals Liability Unit

Peoria, Ill.-based RLI Corp. launched an architects and engineers (A&E) professional liability division – named RLI Design Professionals.

RLI Design Professionals will be led by Louis Leonard “Lenny” Waldhauser IV who will serve as vice president. Waldhauser will be responsible for management and staffing of the new business unit for RLI on a national basis.

Waldhauser comes to RLI from NIP Group, where he was president of the retail division. He developed NIP into a major A&E player by developing customized risk management solutions and leading several multi-million dollar acquisitions of A&E-focused agencies. Prior to NIP, Waldhauser was an assistant vice president and manager with ACE, where he assisted in developing an A&E division.

“Lenny brings 18 years of industry experience to RLI, mostly focused on the A&E marketplace,” said Michael Stone, RLI Insurance Co. president and chief operating officer. “RLI has always believed that soft markets are opportunities to prepare for the future. Adding RLI Design Professionals is a very visible example of our commitment to that belief.”

Joining Waldhauser is Paul Dietrich as vice president. Dietrich joins RLI from ACE USA, where he most recently held the position of vice president, professional risk. Dietrich has held a number of product management and underwriting positions and has successfully developed and launched an A&E product line at ACE. Most of his 22 years of industry experience has been spent underwriting and managing construction liability and professional liability products. Dietrich is a longstanding member of PLUS, is a founding member of that group’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter, and is a member of the American Institute of Architects.

Source: RLI,
www.rlicorp.com