ACE USA, the U.S.-based retail operating division of the ACE Group, has formed a specialized underwriting unit for the renewable energy sector. Part of the ACE Casualty Risk Division, the Renewable Energy Unit will introduce "one stop shopping" with a coordinated package of ACE property and casualty products tailored to the needs of renewable energy companies. With the creation of this new underwriting unit, brokers and clients can access ACE renewable energy solutions through the energy underwriting specialists in their regions.

Darren Small has joined ACE USA as vice president, National Renewable Energy Underwriting Manager, to lead the newly-formed unit. Small is based in Chicago, Ill. and reports to John D. Moore, Vice President and National Energy Underwriting Manager, ACE Custom Casualty. Mr. Small will have overall underwriting authority for the entire ACE renewable energy book of business.

"This unit will enhance ACE's existing energy offerings by providing a fully coordinated package of energy-related products and services. The package now also features options for property, casualty and errors & omissions insurance, as well as a full range of health, safety and environmental consulting services offered through ESIS, Inc., ACE Group's risk management services company," said Mitchell Schmidt, senior vice president and national manager, ACE Custom Casualty.

ACE Custom Casualty offers small start ups to large corporations one of the broadest multi-line product suites for energy risks, with solutions tailored for a range of energy fields, including oil, utilities and power generation, as well as alternative and emerging renewable energy industries and technologies. Insurance options include primary general liability, primary commercial automobile, lead umbrella, pollution liability and workers compensation programs.

With more than 23 years of experience in the insurance industry, Small joins ACE from the Chubb Group of Companies, where he most recently served as assistant vice president and Worldwide Bio-fuels underwriting manager. He previously held various underwriting management positions within the Chubb Group in the United States and Canada.

Source: ACE USA