About – Accelerant

About us

Accelerant was founded and is led by a team of insurance industry veterans who understand the challenges of MGAs and PAs. And especially the challenges of dealing with conventional carriers. It’s why we’re so fundamentally different from other carriers.

It’s why we partner with our Members to help them grow, and only succeed when they succeed as well. It’s why we offer Members the peace of mind and stability that comes with predictable capacity and reinsurance. And it’s why we strip away bureaucracy to fuel velocity and deep collaboration.

Team

Co Founders

Jeff Radke

CEO and Co-Founder

Jeff’s 30-year plus experience includes responsibility for insurance and ceded and assumed reinsurance, working in the European, UK, Lloyd’s, Bermuda and US markets. Prior to co-founding Accelerant, he was an Executive Committee Member, Global Head of Strategic Initiatives, Managing Director of Syndicate, and Head of Europe at Argo, CEO at PXRE, CEO and President at Select Re, SVP at CAT Ltd, and SVP at Guy Carpenter. His experience includes underwriting, operations and management of insurance, and reinsurance in global markets. This experience base has given him a deep understanding of the entire insurance value chain, from the original insured, retail and wholesale brokerage, insurance, and reinsurance to alternative capital and traditional shareholders.

Chris Lee Smith

Head of Distribution and Co-Founder

Chris’s 30-year plus career has focused on the insurance industry, particularly the insurance intermediary market. He has been responsible for creating and implementing strategic change plans and operating models across businesses for Argo, Aon, Willis and Marsh, the development of new distribution channels and their financial performance, including using technology to transform business models through the full value chain, and forming and maintaining partnerships across the various geographical regions where he has worked. This experience enables him to understand the needs and challenges within the insurance value chain and the ancillary functions required to operate.