XS Brokers Names Industry Veteran John J. Head Managing Partner – Growth & Strategy; Appoints Bryan Sanders as Strategic Advisor to Board of Directors

Appointments accelerate XS Brokers’ next phase of growth through production talent acquisition, expanded retail agency partnerships, vertical product specialization and new office expansion John J. Head QUINCY, Mass. – October 12, 2026 – XS Brokers, a privately held national wholesale brokerage, today announced the appointment of John J. Head as Managing Partner – Growth & Strategy. Head will lead the firm’s national growth strategy, with responsibility for recruiting production talent, developing new and deeper relationships with retail agency partners, and building out XS Brokers’ office footprint in key markets. Bryan Sanders The company also announced that Bryan Sanders has joined XS Brokers as an independent strategic advisor to its Board of Directors, where he will provide counsel on growth strategy, talent and market expansion as the firm continues to scale. Head brings more than thirty years of industry experience with over 17 years in the excess & surplus lines marketplace, with a proven record of building, scaling and leading a national wholesale platform. Most recently, he served as President, National Brokerage at RPS, Inc. (Risk Placement Services), where he led a national wholesale brokerage operation, drove profitable growth and margin expansion, and built executive relationships with leading E&S carriers and retail clients. At XS Brokers, Head’s focus will center on vertical product specialization – recruiting and developing brokers and underwriters with deep expertise in specific lines and industry classes – so that retail agents receive true specialist-level service across the firm’s platform. These capabilities sit at the heart of XS Brokers’ growth strategy. “John is one of the most respected growth leaders in the E&S space, and his track record speaks for itself,” said Eric Wirkus, Chief Executive Officer of XS Brokers. “He knows how to find and develop great talent, and he understands that lasting growth comes from deeper partnerships with the retail agents we serve. With John leading our growth agenda and Bryan advising our Board, we are adding the leadership horsepower to take XS Brokers to its next level while staying true to the culture that got us here.” “XS Brokers has positioned itself to become one of the country’s premier specialist wholesalers – it is an organization built on service, expertise and doing right by its agency partners,” said Head. “I’m excited to help accelerate the growth of that platform by bringing in exceptional brokers and specialist at every level, deepening our retail relationships, and expanding our reach into new markets and product verticals.” Sanders brings more than four decades of insurance industry leadership to his advisory role. He retired from Markel in 2025 after serving as President and subsequently Chairman of Markel Specialty. Sanders will advise the XS Brokers Board and leadership team on long-range growth strategy, talent development, incentive programs and market expansion. “XS Brokers has a strong foundation and a tremendous opportunity for growth. I’m excited to support Eric, John and the Board as the firm enters this next phase,” said Sanders. The appointments come as XS Brokers continues to invest in scaling its platform. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts, the firm today generates more than $70 million in annual revenue and employs approximately 265 professionals across eight offices, serving retail agents and brokers nationwide. About XS Brokers XS Brokers Insurance Agency, Inc. is a wholesale and excess & surplus lines insurance brokerage headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts. Founded in 1978, XS Brokers serves retail insurance agents and brokers nationwide from eight offices, employing approximately 265 professionals and generating more than $70 million in annual revenue. The firm provides specialized placement expertise across commercial property, casualty, professional lines, personal lines and other specialty classes, backed by relationships with 300 admitted and non-admitted carriers. For more information, visit www.xsbrokers.com. Media Contact: Eric Wirkus, Chief Executive Officer | ewirkus@xsbrokers.com | 617.890.4242 Topics Agencies Talent