EPIC Bets Big on Real Estate with New Leadership Role

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – February 24, 2026 – EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, a prominent national brokerage firm, has signaled a major strategic push into the competitive real estate insurance market with the appointment of Miranda Rodriguez to the newly created role of Program Development Leader for its national real estate practice. The move is seen by industry observers as a deliberate effort to centralize and scale its operations, challenging established leaders in a sector grappling with unprecedented risk and complexity.

Rodriguez, a 15-year veteran with a decorated career in real estate risk management, will be based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and report to Scott Davis, president of national specialties. Her mandate is to structure and aggressively expand EPIC’s real estate presence, a task that involves designing national programs, forging key strategic partnerships, and integrating innovative technology across the firm's ecosystem.

A Strategic Play for Market Share

EPIC's decision to create this specific leadership role is more than a routine personnel announcement; it represents a significant investment and a clear statement of intent. While the firm, which boasts over $1 billion in revenue and more than 3,000 employees, already has a foothold in the real estate sector, this move aims to transition from a collection of regional strengths to a unified, national powerhouse.

Competitors like Marsh, Aon, and Willis Towers Watson (WTW) have long dominated the space with deeply entrenched, global real estate practices. EPIC's strategy appears to be one of targeted specialization and agility. By appointing a leader focused solely on program development, the firm can build a more cohesive and efficient platform.

"Miranda brings deep real estate experience and a results-driven, execution-focused leadership style that’s exactly what we need to drive the next phase of growth for our real estate practice,” said Scott Davis in the official announcement. He highlighted her ability to "centralize disparate revenue streams, develop scalable programs and anticipate client needs," which he believes will "deliver greater value to both clients and producers across the country.”

This centralization is key. Instead of operating as a series of independent hubs, Rodriguez is tasked with creating a national framework that connects regional expertise, ensuring that a client in California can benefit from the same sophisticated risk solutions as one in New York. This approach is designed to enhance service delivery and strengthen EPIC’s competitive position against its larger rivals.

The Specialist Advantage in a Volatile Market

The timing of EPIC's move is particularly noteworthy. The commercial real estate market is currently navigating a perfect storm of challenges. Escalating climate-related events are making properties uninsurable in some regions, while soaring construction costs, supply chain disruptions, and "social inflation" in liability claims are driving insurance premiums to historic highs.

This is where a specialist like Rodriguez becomes a critical asset. Her track record demonstrates a profound understanding of these complex risks. During her tenure at Brookfield Asset Management, she served as global real estate risk manager, navigating intricate M&A transactions and expanding the firm's international risk footprint. More recently at WTW, she led the strategic growth of the residential segment for North America, a role that earned her a Business Insurance Break Out Award in 2021 for her leadership in M&A due diligence and risk identification.

This deep expertise is precisely what is needed to develop programs that can effectively address modern real estate risks. From the growing demand for ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) compliance to the rising tide of cyber threats targeting property management systems, the risks are no longer just about property damage. They are multifaceted and require a sophisticated, integrated approach that EPIC is betting Rodriguez can build.

The New War for Talent: Building from Within

Rodriguez’s appointment also shines a light on a broader trend in the corporate world: the allure of "greenfield" opportunities for top-tier talent. Rather than simply climbing the ladder at an established giant, many experienced leaders are drawn to newly created roles where they have the autonomy to build something from the ground up.

In her own words, Rodriguez found this aspect of the job compelling. “EPIC’s size, structure and growth mindset presented a unique opportunity to build on a strong foundation and create something transformative,” she stated. “I’ve spent much of my career developing real estate practices and EPIC offers the autonomy, leadership support and resources to build a truly national platform.”

This sentiment reflects a strategic shift in talent acquisition. Firms like EPIC are discovering that they can attract industry-leading experts by offering not just a title, but a mission. The chance to design, build, and scale a major business unit within a well-resourced organization is a powerful incentive. It allows the company to benefit from an executive's entrepreneurial drive while providing the stability and backing of a large corporation. This hybrid model is becoming a key weapon in the ongoing war for specialized talent within the insurance and brokerage industry.

Charting the Course for Growth

Under Rodriguez's leadership, EPIC's real estate practice is set to target several high-growth sub-sectors. The firm has explicitly mentioned enhancing its capabilities in hospitality, senior housing, and the increasingly critical technology and data center space. These areas present unique risk profiles that demand specialized underwriting and risk management solutions, playing directly to the strategy of building a practice based on deep expertise.

Her role will involve coordinating the firm’s existing real estate business while expanding access to expertise across the broader EPIC ecosystem. This means breaking down internal silos and ensuring that teams can collaborate more effectively to serve clients across the full spectrum of commercial real estate. The introduction of innovative technology integrations is a core part of her mandate, aimed at improving efficiency and delivering more sophisticated analytical tools for risk assessment and management.

By focusing on program design and strategic partnerships, Rodriguez is tasked with creating scalable, repeatable solutions that can be deployed nationwide. This will not only benefit large, institutional clients but also provide a higher level of service and expertise to middle-market property owners and developers who are a key part of EPIC's client base. The ultimate goal is to create a national real estate platform that is greater than the sum of its parts, leveraging EPIC's scale while maintaining the specialized, client-focused approach that defines its brand. The success of this initiative will be a key indicator of the firm's ability to challenge the long-standing hierarchy in the real estate insurance brokerage market.