Ryan Specialty Benefits has appointed Dave Przesiek as its president and chief executive officer, effective immediately.
Przesiek previously served as the company’s chief revenue officer, a position he took on after joining Ryan Specialty through its acquisition of AccuRisk Holdings in December 2023. John Zern, who had served as president and CEO since the division was established, has left the company to pursue other interests.
Przesiek brings more than 30 years of experience in the self-insurance market. He began his career in a range of health plan and third-party administrator roles before joining Fallon Health in 2010. During his decade at the company, he served as a senior vice president overseeing product development and commercial sales.
In 2020, Przesiek joined AccuRisk Solutions, where he led the launch of its captive program. He also helped develop the medical stop-loss managing general underwriter’s alternative funding capabilities before AccuRisk became part of Ryan Specialty Benefits.
His professional experience closely aligns with the products at the center of Ryan Specialty Benefits’ platform, including medical stop loss, level-funded plans and group captives serving small and mid-sized employers.
RSB’s Position in a Hardening Market
Przesiek’s appointment comes as the medical stop-loss market faces continued pricing pressure. According to Segal’s 2026 national dataset covering 225 health plans, medical stop-loss coverage costs increased by an average of 12.7% in 2026, compared with 9.7% the previous year.
The pressure is particularly significant in the mid-market, where rising specialty drug costs and high-cost claimants are placing greater strain on self-funded health plans. Advisers are also dealing with increasing complexity during renewals.
That market represents a key focus for Ryan Specialty Benefits, whose product portfolio includes medical stop loss, level-funded plans, and single-parent and group captives designed for employers with fewer than 1,000 employees.
Healthcare captives, particularly group medical captives, are also gaining traction as employers seek alternatives to traditional stop-loss arrangements. A February 2026 report from the Society of Actuaries examining the healthcare captive landscape identified the growing role of these structures in the benefits market.
AccuRisk was already active in the healthcare captive market when Ryan Specialty acquired the business, and Przesiek played a role in developing that capability. His appointment therefore places an executive with extensive experience across the company’s core product areas at the helm of Ryan Specialty Benefits as the market continues to evolve.
