EAST PROVIDENCE – Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage Inc. has hired Andrew Fotopulos to oversee the company’s new focus on specialized risk coverage for financial service firms.

Fotopulos, who has been named senior vice president, will lead the effort to provide specialized coverage for businesses such as investment advisers, securities brokers and dealers, mutual fund groups and private investment and hedge funds, as well as trust companies and banks.

“Given the current financial environment, it is more important than ever to make sure that management and boards of directors of financial institutions maintain adequate protection and coverage,” said Fotopulos, who worked at Theodore Liftman Insurance Inc. for 22 years, most recently serving as executive vice president, before joining Starkweather.

Specialized risk coverage for financial service firm includes: errors and omissions liability insurance, directors and officers liability insurance, fidelity bonds and surety bonds. These products “are not standard,” Fotopulos said. “These products need to be tailored to the financial institutions.”

Nat Calamis, Starkweather’s recently elected president and chief executive officer, said the brokerage will continue to “be more aggressive in identifying key commercial business segments and tailoring products that meet their needs.”

Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage Inc. is a provider of life, property, auto and other insurance to individuals and the financial, food-service, maritime, manufacturing, retail, medical and utility industries via its headquarters in East Providence and branch offices in East Greenwich, Newport, Warwick, Westerly, Westwood, Mass., and Martha’s Vineyard. The company was honored by PBN and Best Companies Group as one of the 2008 Best Places to Work in Rhode Island. It marks its 130th anniversary this year. For additional information, visit www.StarkweatherShepley.com.