RT Specialty, the wholesale brokerage division of Ryan Specialty, has announced a planned leadership transition, appointing Brendan Mulshine as Chief Executive Officer effective August 1, 2026.

Mulshine, who currently serves as Co-President of Ryan Specialty, will succeed Ed McCormack, who has led RT Specialty through a period of significant growth. McCormack will transition to the role of Vice Chairman through 2027 to support the leadership handover and the company’s continued strategic development.

The appointment forms part of Ryan Specialty’s long-term succession planning as the specialty insurance distributor continues to expand its wholesale broking operations across North America.

Experienced Internal Leader Takes the Helm

Mulshine joined Ryan Specialty in 2012 and has held leadership roles across the company’s business units, giving him broad operational experience throughout the organization.

His appointment reflects Ryan Specialty’s preference for developing leadership from within while maintaining continuity across its wholesale brokerage platform, which provides specialty insurance and reinsurance solutions through retail brokers.

As CEO, Mulshine will oversee RT Specialty’s continued growth across its national specialty practices, focusing on strengthening broker relationships and expanding the firm’s capabilities in the excess and surplus (E&S) insurance market.

Leadership Changes Across Property and Casualty Practices

Alongside the CEO succession, RT Specialty announced a series of senior leadership appointments across its property and casualty divisions.

Brenda (Ballard) Austenfeld, Co-President of RT Specialty and Chief Executive Officer of its National Property Practice, will become Deputy Vice Chairman of RT Specialty, effective August 1. Austenfeld has been instrumental in the growth of the firm’s property business and is widely recognized within the insurance industry, having been named a Business Insurance Women to Watch honoree in 2006 and an Iconic Leader in 2025.

Hugh Mooney, currently President of the National Property Practice, will succeed Austenfeld as Chief Executive Officer of the property division, continuing the firm’s focus on specialist property underwriting and wholesale distribution.

Within the casualty business, Chris Houska, Chief Executive Officer of RT Specialty’s National Casualty Practice, will transition to the role of Vice Chairman through 2027. Ryan Grimes, currently President of the National Casualty Practice, will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer, leading one of the firm’s largest specialty business units.

Supporting Long-Term Growth

The succession plan comes as wholesale brokers continue to play an increasingly important role in placing complex and specialty risks across the excess and surplus lines market.

Ryan Specialty has grown rapidly in recent years through a combination of organic expansion and strategic acquisitions, strengthening its position as one of the leading specialty insurance distributors in North America.

By promoting experienced internal executives into key leadership roles, the company aims to maintain continuity while positioning RT Specialty for its next phase of growth.

The transition also reflects a broader trend across the specialty insurance market, where firms are increasingly implementing structured succession plans to ensure leadership stability while continuing to invest in specialist expertise and client relationships.

With Mulshine taking over as CEO and a new generation of leaders assuming responsibility across the firm’s property and casualty practices, RT Specialty is positioning itself to build on its established market presence while continuing to expand its specialty wholesale capabilities.