Ryan Turner Specialty (RT Specialty), the wholesale brokerage arm of Ryan Specialty, has appointed Brendan Mulshine as its new chief executive officer (CEO), effective August 1, 2026.
Mulshine currently serves as co-president of Ryan Specialty, a role he will continue to serve in addition to his new responsibilities.
He will work closely with leadership to drive accelerated growth and deepen relationships with retail brokerage clients and carrier trading partners.
Mulshine joined the company in 2012 and has worked across all business units, including RT Specialty, as part of a 30-year legal, insurance and reinsurance career.
In addition to this, the broker has appointed several senior leaders to new roles in line with its long-term strategic growth plans. All appointments are effective August 1, 2026.
RT Specialty CEO Ed McCormack will transition to vice chairman and continue in that role until 2027.
The broker said McCormack has been one of the driving forces behind the company’s “emergence as a leader in the specialty insurance market” since its inception and has been integral to strategic direction, talent building and relationship development.
Brenda (Ballard) Austenfeld, RT Specialty’s co-president and CEO of national property operations, will become RT Specialty’s vice chairman.
National Property Practice president Hugh Mooney, who has more than two decades of wholesale insurance expertise, will serve as CEO of Property Practice.
Chris Houska, chief executive officer of RT Specialty’s national casualty business, who has led the company since 2010, will serve as vice chairman of national casualty business until 2027.
Ryan Grimes, president of the national casualty business with two decades of wholesale insurance experience, will become CEO of the business.
Tim Turner, CEO of Ryan Specialty and Chairman of RT Specialty, commented, “Ed McCormack was one of the primary architects of RT Specialty and has left his mark on nearly everything that makes this company great. Ed’s strategic thinking and relentless work ethic have helped us build the most professional and hard-working wholesale team in the industry, and I am grateful that he will continue to serve as Vice Chairman, providing his judgment and vision to the company and our employees.”
He continued, “Brendan is the ideal leader to serve as CEO of RT because he shares our belief that success in this market is achieved through superior insight, disciplined execution and an unwavering commitment to our customers and trading partners. Under Brendan’s leadership and with the support of an experienced team, RT Specialty will continue to build on its foundation of excellence.”
“It has been a privilege to work with Pat, Tim and this world-class team to help build RT Specialty,” said McCormack. “I will always be proud of the culture, talent and relationships we have created over the past 16 years. Brendan is an outstanding leader and the right person to drive RT Specialty forward, and I look forward to continuing to support him, our teammates and customers in my new role.”
Mulshine added: “I am extremely honored to serve in this role, and I want to thank Ed for everything he has done, the example he has set, and his continued partnership. We have the best brokers and underwriters in the industry, and we intend to continue to win the way RT has always done – by going above and beyond to deliver for the benefit of our clients and trading partners. I am very excited about the future.”
He continued: “Brenda, Hugh, Chris and Ryan all bring a wealth of experience in the insurance industry and at RT Specialty. These leadership changes highlight the deep talent pool we have built and I look forward to working more closely with them in their respective new roles.”
