James Murdock

• Collectibles Coverage: Insuring Prized Possessions

  By James Murdock  |  November 26, 2012

  Everyone’s familiar with the concept of collecting stamps, coins, comic books and even “Star Wars” action figures—but how about collecting surgeons’ tools from the Civil War era or locks of celebrities’ hair?

• When a Musician’s Hair Sells for More Than a Song

  By James Murdock  |  November 26, 2012

  People in the 18th and 19th centuries collected hair as a keepsake to remind them of loved ones, much as religious people have long kept skull and bone fragments as holy relics. In the world of collecting, what’s old is new again: Hair, clothes and other ephemera belonging to celebrities...

• Niche Rich: Philadelphia’s Strategy Centers on Discovering, Dominating Specialized Coverages

  By James Murdock  |  August 6, 2012

  Philly’s execs run the extra mile to service specialty niches.

• Meet the New Boss: Benefits of the Tokio Marine Acquisition

  By James Murdock  |  August 6, 2012

  When Tokio Marine Holdings Inc. announced it would acquire Philadelphia Consolidated Holding Corp. for $4.8 billion in July 2008—near the height of the global economic meltdown—market-watchers were impressed but not overly surprised at the hefty price tag. Some four years on, many agree, the deal still looks smart.

• PHLY to Ramp Up E&S Lines

  By James Murdock  |  August 6, 2012

  Philadelphia Insurance Cos. has long been known as a primary carrier that will provide coverage for specialty lines that are otherwise unavailable except through the excess-and-surplus market. This spring, though, it decided to go a step further and institute its own E&S division.

• Philly Execs Are True Iron Men

  By James Murdock  |  August 6, 2012

  I don’t think you’re going to find many insurance-company CEOs who have qualified for and competed in the Hawaii Triathlon twice,” says Jamie Maguire Jr. (left), chairman & CEO of Philadelphia Insurance Cos. Both he and President & COO Sean Sweeney (right) compete in Ironman events.

• Wild Weather Blows Open the Realm of Potential Liabilities at Museums

  By James Murdock  |  February 16, 2012

  Both insurers and museums routinely overlook risks like criminals who hack into databases to learn details about a museum’s plans for transporting artwork, in order to intercept and steal them.

• An Embarrassment of Riches: Museums Tackle Maddening Crowds

  By James Murdock  |  February 16, 2012

  In an effort to maintain or boost their attendance, museums are trying new strategies that range from pushing the envelope with exhibition content to generating revenue by utilizing their real estate in creative ways. These gambits are keeping insurance carriers on their toes, placing even greater importance on loss-control programs...

• Media Companies, Like Much of Corporate America, See Increasing Need for Cyber Coverage

  By James Murdock  |  January 13, 2012

  As traditional media companies adapt and attempt to thrive within the rapidly changing digital space, they are discovering—sometimes painfully—that their insurance coverage also must evolve.

• With Rise of Social Web, Almost Every Company Must Now Consider Itself a Media Player

  By James Murdock  |  January 13, 2012

  One of the fundamental business changes wrought by the Web and the explosion of digital commerce and social networking is that essentially every large company is now a major creator of content.

• Large-Scale Media Layoffs Lead to Coverage Questions Regarding Freelancers, Syndicators

  By James Murdock  |  January 13, 2012

  Laying off full-time journalists in favor of relying on freelancers and syndicated content providers has become an increasingly common strategy for media companies seeking to maintain their profits.

• Cyber Liability Represents A New Frontier For Horizon

  By James Murdock  |  October 6, 2011

  When the Sun Belt states’ white-hot construction market evaporated, Horizon E&S Insurance Brokerage—which counted this sector among its business staples—looked to diversify its client base and lines. Cyberspace recently emerged as a lucrative new frontier for the California-based managing general agen

• That's What Friends Are For

  By James Murdock  |  September 6, 2011

  Local agents leverage ties with national carriers to earn social-media hits.

• As Historic Homes And Cultural Sites Angle To Attract New Visitors, Additional Insurance Opportunities Arise

  By James Murdock  |  May 16, 2011

  For historic homes, the chief insurance consideration is typically calculating replacement costs so that the building’s cultural and educational qualities—the factors that make it unique—can be restored after a damaging event. “If something happens that places the historic designation at risk, the property has to be able to [remedy] that...