Huntington T. Block Hired Senior Art Insurance Lead
The specialty insurer appointed Emily Schaffer to manage fine art accounts as the firm expands its underwriting capacity.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in People
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Huntington T. Block, an Aon subsidiary, has named Emily Schaffer as senior vice president of fine art insurance. Based in New York, Schaffer will oversee daily relationships with major fine art clients for the managing general underwriter.
Why it matters
The hire targets specialized insurance expertise for high-value assets, leveraging Schaffer's background in fine arts to bolster the firm's claims and underwriting capabilities. The move strengthens the firm's competitive positioning among the 350 associations it currently serves.
Emily Schaffer brings 15 years of industry experience and has been named a Fine Art Power Broker five times. Her new firm, Huntington T. Block, currently maintains active partnerships with more than 350 associations.
The players
Emily Schaffer
Senior vice president of fine art insurance with 15 years of experience and a five-time Fine Art Power Broker designee.
Huntington T. Block
A managing general underwriter and subsidiary of Aon that specializes in insurance programs for more than 350 associations.
Diane Jackson
President of Huntington T. Block who oversees the firm's strategic direction and insurance offerings.
The details
Operating within Aon's Totalis Specialty Group, Huntington T. Block functions as a managing general underwriter for major insurers. Schaffer is tasked with managing daily account relationships, focusing on the complex claims and underwriting requirements inherent to fine art coverage. She transitions to this role from Risk Strategies Company, where she served as vice president and team leader for fine arts.
Timeline
The appointment was announced on September 23, 2026.
Market Landscape
This appointment follows the broader industry trend of large firms like Aon acquiring and staffing specialized underwriting desks to capture high-margin, high-value asset business. It signals continued professionalization within the niche fine art insurance sector.
Operators managing high-value business assets or niche risk portfolios should monitor how the firm's underwriting capacity evolves under this new leadership. Changes in claim handling or coverage criteria at the firm may shift the cost basis for similar specialty insurance programs.
The takeaway
The move highlights the critical importance of specialized expertise when managing high-stakes asset insurance. Operators should evaluate whether their current insurance partnerships offer the same level of specialized underwriting and claims experience for their most valuable equipment or inventory.
Further reading
For broader insight into leadership shifts and executive hiring trends, visit our People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Beinsure: Insurance & InsurTech Media Market Intelligence Platform.
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