Tom Rea Named Executive Vice President of Berkley Design Professional

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Monterey, Calif., July 17, 2025 – Berkley Design Professional, a division of Berkley Alliance Managers, a Berkley Company, specializing in professional liability insurance products and services for architects and engineers, has announced Tom Rea as the new executive president.

With nearly 30 years of experience in professional liability underwriting and a strong background in portfolio management, Tom has a proven track record of successfully launching numerous new products and expanding business portfolios for Berkley Alliance Managers and other insurance providers.

“Tom’s extensive experience in professional liability underwriting, his exceptional leadership skills, and his creative approach to business will position Berkley Design Professional for growth in the A&E Professional Liability Insurance market,” said Stephen L. Porcelli, president of Berkley Alliance Managers. “We are truly fortunate to have Tom’s leadership, and we are confident he will best serve the interests of our brokers and policyholders.”

Tom joined Berkley Alliance Managers in 2020 to lead Berkley Service Professionals, the company’s miscellaneous professional liability business unit, and he will continue in this role as well. Before joining Berkley, he held various positions in professional liability, including senior vice president, product head, product and portfolio manager, and senior underwriter. He has experience working in both large and small insurance companies, as well as with Managing General Agents that specialize in both admitted and non-admitted professional liability insurance.

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Celebrating a Decade Together!

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November 14, 2023

As the leaves change and the year comes to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on the journey of Berkley Design Professional. As you know, this year marks a significant milestone for us – our 10th Anniversary!

A decade ago, we embarked on a mission to provide outstanding service and expertise in the A&E professional liability insurance industry. Today, we’re proud to have achieved and surpassed many of our goals, thanks to your support and trust.

A Look Back

Over the past ten years, we’ve faced challenges, celebrated successes and forged lasting relationships. From our humble beginnings to becoming an industry leader, our growth story has been nothing short of remarkable. We’ve introduced innovative solutions, expanded our reach and most importantly, served thousands of satisfied clients.

Our Gratitude

Our success would not have been possible without our dedicated team and you, our valued brokers. Your feedback, loyalty and partnership have been the cornerstone of our achievements. As we celebrate this milestone, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each one of you. Your belief in our vision and services has propelled us to new heights.

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The Driving Forces Behind Rate Change

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June 9, 2022

If you upgrade your Ford Focus to a Mustang before your next auto insurance renewal, would you expect to pay more? After all, you still only have one car. I don’t think anyone would be surprised to pay more in this situation. So why then do design firms and contractors get surprised by a premium increase when their annual fees/revenues remain the same, but they are performing work in different disciplines or doing different kinds of projects than last year?

The year over year exposure change is more than just a change in the rating basis. It’s the change in the firm’s entire risk profile. As a dramatic example, suppose a firm does $10 million of civil engineering work one year, but the next year that same firm does $10 million of structural engineering work. The firm will pay more in year two simply because they are engaging in a discipline with more risk.

This is the basic underlying concept of what actuaries mean by exposure-adjusted rate change. If the premium charged in the second year only reflected the move from civil work to structural work, the exposure-adjusted rate change would be zero. We fundamentally need to charge additional premium for the type of work that is more likely to give rise to more severe claims simply due to the nature of the work.

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