James River Turns to AI After a Volatile Year

James River Insurance Company has selected Kalepa to deploy an AI underwriting platform across its excess and surplus (E&S) business, according to Kalepa’s press release announcing the engagement. The company said the system will support submission intake, risk triage, and portfolio management within its E&S segment.

Todd Sutherland, president of James River, said, “This investment directly supports our focus on disciplined underwriting and our commitment to providing our employees with state-of-the-art technology to deliver shareholder value.” He added that Kalepa will help underwriters make “faster, more consistent decisions with better insight, strengthening risk selection and portfolio performance”.

The announcement follows a shift in underwriting results. In its third quarter 2025 earnings release, James River reported a 94% combined ratio, compared with 135.5% in the third quarter of 2024. The E&S segment reported an 88.3% combined ratio for Q3 2025. A combined ratio below 100% indicates underwriting profitability.

In its second quarter 2025 results, the company reported combined ratios in the low 90s in its E&S segment and cited rate increases across underwriting divisions. Coverage of its fourth quarter 2024 results noted a quarterly loss driven in part by adverse development and reinsurance impacts. Recent quarterly filings show improved underwriting performance compared with that period.