APPALACHIAN UNDERWRITERS, INC.
National wholesale MGA and TPA serving independent agents with workers' compensation, commercial specialty, and personal lines programs backed by domestic carriers and Lloyd's of London.
Overview
Appalachian Underwriters, Inc. (AUI) is a national managing general agent (MGA) and third-party administrator (TPA) headquartered in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Founded in 1996 by Robert (Bob) Arowood and his brother Bill Arowood, the company has grown into one of the largest independent wholesale insurance distributors in the United States, ranked fifth largest MGA in the nation by Business Insurance. AUI places more than USD 400 million in gross written premium annually through programs underwritten by domestic carriers and Lloyd's of London.
The company distributes exclusively through independent insurance agents and brokers, providing more than 30,000 agencies and 110,000+ appointed agents with a national wholesale outlet for workers' compensation, commercial specialty, personal lines, and transactional wholesale brokerage. AUI's proprietary agent portal enables online rating, quoting, and binding across multiple product lines with single sign-on access to numerous carrier markets simultaneously.
In January 2022, Acrisure acquired Appalachian Underwriters along with U.S. Administrator Claims (its affiliated TPA) and related entities. The acquisition was strategically driven by AUI's extensive historical claims and underwriting dataset, which Acrisure integrated into its AI-driven risk modeling strategy. In February 2024, Acrisure consolidated its wholesale property and casualty businesses under the Wholesure brand -- AUI now operates as part of the Wholesure P&C platform. Brian Fischer serves as President of Appalachian Underwriters and Managing Director of Wholesure P&C.
Products & Services
Workers' Compensation Programs
AUI's flagship product line covering standard and non-standard workers' compensation risks. The dedicated Workers' Comp Xpress Rater provides agents with up to seven simultaneous market options based on risk characteristics, class code combinations, and geographic location. The system accepts hundreds of business classes including contractors, staffing agencies, hospitality, manufacturing, and non-standard or distressed accounts.
Key Features
- Standard and non-standard workers' compensation
- New ventures, coverage lapses, and distressed accounts
- Multi-market comparative rating in a single submission
- Single sign-on access to AIC, AmTrust, Employers, MidSouth, NLF, PIE, and additional markets
Target Users: Employers in workers' compensation-intensive industries -- contractors, hospitality, staffing, manufacturing, transportation.
Distribution: Exclusive wholesale distribution through licensed independent agents and brokers.
Commercial Specialty Programs
Specialty property and casualty programs for hard-to-place commercial risks that fall outside standard market appetite.
Key Features
- Commercial property and casualty
- Garage and auto dealers
- Commercial bonds
- General liability including small business via Coterie Insurance partnership
- Gig economy and home-based business GL via Simply Business/Harborway partnership
Target Users: Commercial risks with complex exposures, including garage, bonds, and specialty commercial lines.
Distribution: Wholesale through appointed agents; digital binding via agent portal.
Personal Lines Programs
Preferred and non-standard personal lines products distributed through the wholesale channel, including the AssetGuard program for valuable personal articles with online rate-quote-bind capability.
Key Features
- Dwelling and manufactured homes insurance
- Non-standard personal auto
- Specialty personal lines products
- AssetGuard -- valuable personal articles coverage with online rating
Target Users: Personal lines risks difficult to place in standard markets.
Distribution: Wholesale through appointed agents; online binding via agent portal.
Transactional Wholesale Brokerage
A dedicated brokerage unit that extends AUI's market access beyond its managed programs for large or highly specialized risks.
Target Users: Accounts exceeding managed program capacity or requiring access to non-standard or London markets.
Distribution: Wholesale brokerage to specialty and E&S markets.
Third-Party Administration (TPA)
Claims administration and management services through U.S. Administrator Claims, an affiliated entity acquired by Acrisure simultaneously with AUI.
Target Users: Self-insured employers and insurance carriers requiring outsourced claims management.
Distribution: Direct and through carrier partnerships.
At a Glance
- Founded
- 1996
- Headquarters
- Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
- Employees
- 201-500
Category & Focus
- Category
- Wholesale MGA
- Subcategories
- Workers' Compensation Commercial Specialty Personal Lines TPA Services Transactional Wholesale Brokerage
- Insurance Verticals
- P&C Specialty
- Target Customers
- Independent Agents, Brokers
Last updated: 2026-05-11