About Wes
Wes Benefield is a Principal, Senior Vice President, and Brown & Riding’s National Professional Liability Practice Leader. He specializes in D&O, E&O, and Cyber. With over 10 years of combined retailer, carrier, and wholesale experience in the executive lines space, Wes knows it takes a combination of expertise and effort to meet customer needs and produce outstanding solutions. He continuously strives to add value to each transaction and find the best possible outcomes in the market for his client. Wes is dedicated to delivering excellent results, prioritizing his clients second to none.
Beginning his career in 2007, Wes became an insurance professional because the business rewards grit and hustle. He was consistently a top-performing Underwriter at AIG (D&O), Hartford (D&O/E&O), and Zurich (Professional/Cyber). When he transitioned to the wholesale sector in 2022, Wes found his true niche, winning the 2023 Peak Award for top performance. He joined Brown & Riding in 2024. In addition to his insurance roles, Wes’s career path includes owning and operating a sign manufacturing business and then vocational culinary school.
Wes holds Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), Management Liability Insurance Specialist (MLIS), and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designations. He is an active participant in the insurance community, speaking on panels at various retail and client symposiums and regularly attending the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA) annual marketplace. Outside of work, Wes enjoys spending time outdoors and with family.
