NIP Group Announces New Leadership for Specialty Brokerage

<p>Business Editors/Insurance Writers</p> <p>WOODBRIDGE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 17, 2008--NIP Group today announced two changes to the leadership team of its Specialty Brokerage Division. Ushering in a new phase of growth for the company, Jerry Barry will now serve as President, while Dean Mortilla has been promoted to Vice President. NIP Specialty Brokerage is a specialty wholesale brokerage with Construction, Healthcare, Specialty Property and Casualty practices.</p> <p>Jerry Barry joins the NIP Specialty Brokerage Division after demonstrating an impressive record of success as Assistant Vice President at NIP Group Captive Division, overseeing both Sales and Marketing. During his tenure as AVP, Barry achieved a notable 20% annual growth rate in an extremely competitive market. Prior to joining NIP, Barry held sales and marketing positions of increasing responsibility with Merck & Co. He received both a BA in Communications and a Masters in Corporate and Public Communications from Seton Hall University.</p> <p>“I am pleased to promote Jerry to the helm of our Specialty Brokerage Division,” said Richard Augustyn, CEO of NIP Group, Inc. “Since joining NIP Group, Jerry has been on a fast track, successfully taking on challenging positions and consistently producing impressive results. Jerry will now be responsible for leading the NIP Specialty Division through a second phase of growth that will result in the division becoming one of NIP Group’s leading business units.”</p> <p>Dean Mortilla has been with NIP Specialty Brokerage since its inception, and as Senior Broker, has significantly contributed to the company’s growth and evolution to date. With over 15 years of experience in the insurance industry, Mortilla has extensive knowledge of the wholesale property and casualty business, he is a market leader known for his superior brokerage skills and passion for excellence. He will report directly to NIP Specialty President, Jerry Barry.</p> <p>“Dean has been instrumental in building a tremendous business foundation for NIP Specialty,” Augustyn said. “He exemplifies the best qualities we seek in our professionals and we are delighted to recognize his contributions with this promotion. The leadership team of Jerry and Dean will fully leverage our business platform to rapidly grow our specialty wholesale business in a highly competitive market for both business and talent. We all are excited about what this dynamic team will achieve in the future.”</p> <p><em>About NIP Specialty Brokerage</em></p> <p>NIP Specialty Brokerage is a wholesale brokerage operation targeting non-standard commercial risks underwritten by admitted and non-admitted specialty carriers. NIP Specialty Brokerage assists agents/brokers in the structure and placement of complex insurance risks throughout the United States by accessing NIP's brokerage expertise and relationships with global insurance markets.</p> <p><em>About NIP Group, Inc.</em></p> <p>NIP Group, Inc. is a specialty insurance intermediary, ranked among the largest 100 in the United States and providing a wide range of brokerage, underwriting and risk management services to select market segments.</p>