THE GSR DIFFERENCE
Since 1979, Global Special Risks (GSR) has been underwriting insurance coverages for the Upstream Energy industry.
Today, GSR remains at the forefront of creating new products specifically developed to meet the needs of its industry. GSR delivers its products primarily through national, regional and independent retail brokers, providing access to specialty underwriters and specialty products. GSR’s programs are supported by London and domestic markets.
When working with GSR, you are assured to receive:
– Experienced and knowledgeable underwriters
– Direct access to subject matter professionals
– Access to some of the industry’s top carriers
– In-house claims leadership
GSR is known for providing expertise and breadth of solutions to our clients’ very specific needs. GSR has gained this reputation over three decades of servicing the Upstream Energy industry, and continues to provide the highest quality solutions in today’s evolving market.
THE GSR DIRECTORS
GSR’s underwriting team has broad, in-depth insurance knowledge as well as significant experience in the Energy industry. In addition to prior insurance experience, our employees have worked with GSR for over a decade on average, providing them a thorough understanding of the business, the ability to place varied insurance risks and the expertise to handle complex claims on behalf of our clients.
HELEN TARR, Managing Director
Helen Tarr is Director of Global Special Risks (GSR), ensuring that the organization continues to provide best-in-class insurance solutions for both their clients and carrier trading partners using their specialty knowledge and experience. Helen has been with GSR since 2002 and joined Ryan Specialty when it acquired GSR in 2011. She has served a variety of roles within the organization in that time, most recently as Underwriting Manager and Senior Vice President leading the OEE team.
With over two decades of experience in the insurance industry, Helen’s background includes broking, underwriting and MGA / MGU experience across various property and casualty lines. In addition to her work with GSR, Helen has served as an energy underwriter for Chaucer Syndicates and as an aerospace broker for Willis Group (now Willis Towers Watson).
Helen has received her bachelor’s degree in International Management and Modern Languages (French) from the University of Bath, U.K. and also holds the Associateship of the Chartered Insurance Institute and a Property & Casualty license in the state of Texas.
Jeremy Fyhn, Associate Director
Jeremy serves as Associate Director for Global Special Risks. He joined the team in October of 2015 as an underwriter, where he produced, underwrote and managed all Canadian energy operations. As Associate Director, Jeremy’s responsibilities now include production, underwriting, product development, liaising with Lloyd’s underwriters, broker relations / development and oversight of all Canadian operations. Jeremy has close to 13 years of insurance experience, and prior to working at GSR, he held a variety of roles within the industry, including broking and account management in energy with large international brokers in Calgary.
Jeremy holds his Brokers License, a Canadian Risk Management (CRM) designation and is working to obtain his Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation. Jeremy graduated from Mount Royal University in Calgary with a business degree, majoring in risk management and insurance.
CONNIE GARRETT, Associate Director
Connie serves as Associate Director for Global Special Risks. She first joined GSR in 2016 as an energy casualty underwriter, and she has over 20 years of insurance industry experience in casualty, workers compensation, auto liability, A&H and property. As Associate Director, Connie’s focus is on underwriting the upstream casualty general liability/umbrella lines, as well as the energy consultants general liability, professional liability and umbrella lines. In addition, her responsibilities include marketing, agency management, broking and working with underwriters at Lloyds.
Connie has a BBA – Finance from the University of Texas and holds the CPCU designation. In addition, she is a licensed General Agent with the state of Texas.
JUSTIN JENKINS, Director
Justin serves as Associate Director for Global Special Risks. In this role, he focuses on growth and profitability of all underwriting facilities, in addition to managing product development and broker relationships.
Justin first joined GSR in 2015 with a primary focus on underwriting and producing for GSR’s proprietary Control of Well product, which includes oilfield property and equipment. In 2019, Justin transitioned to Trident Marine Managers, a sister organization to GSR and an MGU under the Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers umbrella. There, he underwrote onshore, offshore and subsea equipment for marine and energy contractors. His other responsibilities included managing and growing broker relationships and overseeing binding authority agreements.
Justin has over 10 years of insurance industry experience and received his B.B.A in Risk Management and Insurance from the University of Mississippi.
CONNECTION TO RYAN SPECIALTY
GSR is a part of the Ryan Specialty family. Ryan Specialty is a service provider of specialty products and solutions for insurance brokers, agents and carriers. Ryan Specialty provides distribution, underwriting, product development, administration and risk management services by acting as a managing underwriter and a wholesale broker. Ryan Specialty’s mission is to provide industry-leading innovative specialty insurance solutions for insurance brokers, agents and carriers. ryansg.com (NYSE:RYAN)
Ryan Specialty was founded in 2010 by Patrick G. Ryan, the widely respected insurance veteran, founder and former Chairman and CEO of Aon Corporation. Mr. Ryan saw the need in the marketplace for a specialty organization dedicated exclusively to creating sophisticated insurance solutions for risks that demand innovation, proven leadership, outstanding industry expertise and quality services on behalf of brokers, agents and carriers.
Within Ryan Specialty, GSR falls within the Underwriting Managers specialty. Underwriting Managers delivers an independent and entrepreneurial approach to the specialty lines space by providing a unique platform for operational, legal, actuarial and technical support. Underwriting Managers’ exceptional resources and back office support allows underwriters to focus on the risk itself, delivering a superior level of service to brokers, agents and carriers.