Insurance executives George Anderson, Stephen ‘Reno’ Benson and other industry veteran partners have formed Anderson Benson Insurance, an independent, locally owned insurance and risk management agency.

Anderson Benson officials say they will work with preferred insurance carriers to provide commercial and personal coverage to clients in Nashville and Middle Tennessee. The agency will focus on a range of industries, including hospitality, arts, construction, manufacturing, nonprofit, professional services and technology. Its concentration on personal lines includes insuring individual’s homes, autos and related assets.

Anderson and Benson have been joined in their new endeavor by Steve Buzzell and Jim Marks. Each has been involved for more than 20 years in leadership roles in major local agencies and the insurance industry. The group worked together at the former Polk & Sullivan Group and Synaxis in the 1980s and '90s and later at First Horizon Insurance. Most recently, both Anderson and Benson had been with local agency Wade & Egbert Insurance Partners.

“The disappearance of locally owned insurance agencies has created a void for a significant segment of insurance buyers in the market who desire a higher level of service that is better delivered through local-based expertise,” Anderson said. “As a result, it creates a strong strategic opportunity for the partners to form Anderson Benson Insurance.”

Buzzell, who was formerly with Brown & Brown — a national player that last year took over First Horizon Insurance — began his career in 1988 with R.K. Carvill in London, England. He has also worked with Aetna Property & Casualty and later joined Polk & Sullivan and Willis. Buzzell, a former president of the Insurers of Nashville's board of directors, is a graduate of the University of Tennessee.

Jim Marks is founder of OneApp Agency, a developer of software for insurance compliance, began his career with Price Waterhouse, and later was vice president of Finance for SouthLife Holding. A graduate of Duke University, he was a founding member of Synaxis Group in 1998.

In addition to his work in the insurance field, Anderson has been active in community and professional organizations. He is chair of the Metropolitan Nashville Parks and Recreation board, a member of The Cultural Landscape Foundation board and the Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Church of America. Benson currently serves on the boards of the Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity, The 100 Club, Matthew 25, the National Football Foundation and the Nashville Sports Council.