Western Security Surplus, part of the XPT Group, a specialty insurance distribution company, on Wednesday announced the launch of a new workers’ compensation division.

Dan Rieden

The company also said it hired Dan Rieden to serve as executive vice president and practice leader of the workers' compensation division, and Matt Rieden to serve as senior underwriter for specialty niches within the division.

Dan Rieden has more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, with much of his focus on the creation and development of workers' compensation underwriting platforms, WSS said in a statement. He has built teams that generated more than $250 million in written premiums for small to medium-sized businesses.

Matt Rieden also has an extensive workers' compensation background, with a focus on specialty classes of business — in particular franchised auto dealerships in the western U.S.

WSS said its new workers' compensation division is available in most states through various A-rated carriers. In addition to being able to write standard classes of business, WSS can write specialty classes including franchised auto dealers, artisan contractors, bars and taverns, cannabis, professional employer organizations and transportation.

WSS provides retail brokers with commercial and personal lines products, with access to both admitted and non-admitted markets. The company is headquartered in Plano, Texas, with employees also in California.