---
title: "Beazley vs The Hartford D&O Insurance"
description: "Beazley underwrites standalone private-company D&O with Excess Side A; The Hartford’s D&O sits in Private Choice Premier and can also attach to a Business Owner’s Policy."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-the-hartford/directors-officers"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-23"
---

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# Beazley vs The Hartford D&O Insurance

Beazley underwrites standalone private-company D&O with Excess Side A; The Hartford’s D&O sits in Private Choice Premier and can also attach to a Business Owner’s Policy.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate Beazley and The Hartford for D&O Insurance against the same documented criteria. It identifies differences and questions to confirm; it does not select a winner for a particular business. Offering claims are what each provider publishes about this line unless marked otherwise. “Not found” describes the evidence reviewed, not proof that a feature is unavailable. Confirm the insurer, policy wording, limits, retentions, exclusions and cost in an actual quote.

## Summary

Beazley underwrites private-company D&O itself, with advertised limits up to US $20 million and a duty-to-defend or pay-on-behalf choice. The Hartford’s D&O coverage is one of five options in its Private Choice Premier management-liability package and can also be added to a Business Owner’s Policy, offered to nonprofit, public and privately held companies. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/executive-risk-usa/do-private-companies/ "D&O - Private Companies") [3](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/execuguard-combined-epl-do-and-fiduciary "Execuguard (Combined EPL, D&O, and Fiduciary)") [9](https://www.thehartford.com/management-liability-insurance "Management Liability Insurance | Get a Quote")

## What Is Beazley?

Beazley is a specialty insurance group whose MediaTech product combines technology and professional E&O, media and cyber coverage. Separate offerings address executive liability, digital health and other specialty risks. [1](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/small-business-solutions-usa/mediatech-for-small-businesses/ "MediaTech for Small Businesses") [2](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/legal-information-en/ "Legal Information") [3](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/execuguard-combined-epl-do-and-fiduciary "Execuguard (Combined EPL, D&O, and Fiduciary)") [4](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/healthcare-usa/virtual-care "Virtual Care")

[Beazley profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/beazley)

## What Is The Hartford?

The Hartford is the brand of The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc., whose subsidiaries underwrite property-and-casualty insurance and employee benefits. Small-business buyers can start online or by phone or work through independent agents, while the issuing company and state eligibility still have to be confirmed on a quote. [6](https://www.thehartford.com/legal-notice "Legal Notice") [7](https://www.thehartford.com/business-insurance/saas-insurance "SaaS Insurance for Your Business") [8](https://www.thehartford.com/find-an-agent "Find a Local Insurance Agent")

[The Hartford profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/the-hartford)

## What Is Directors and Officers Insurance?

Directors and officers liability insurance addresses covered claims alleging wrongful acts in managing an organization. [10](https://www.thehartford.com/business-insurance/glossary-of-business-insurance-terms "Glossary of Business Insurance Terms")

## Key Differences in D&O Insurance

### Where D&O Sits in the Product

Beazley underwrites private-company D&O as a standalone form or bundled with employment practices and fiduciary in ExecuGuard. The Hartford’s D&O is one of five options in Private Choice Premier and can also be added to a Business Owner’s Policy. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/executive-risk-usa/do-private-companies/ "D&O - Private Companies") [3](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/execuguard-combined-epl-do-and-fiduciary "Execuguard (Combined EPL, D&O, and Fiduciary)") [9](https://www.thehartford.com/management-liability-insurance "Management Liability Insurance | Get a Quote")

You are choosing a Beazley D&O or ExecuGuard contract, or choosing whether Hartford D&O lives in Private Choice Premier or on a BOP. [3](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/execuguard-combined-epl-do-and-fiduciary "Execuguard (Combined EPL, D&O, and Fiduciary)") [9](https://www.thehartford.com/management-liability-insurance "Management Liability Insurance | Get a Quote")

### Private Companies Versus Nonprofits, Public Companies and Financial Institutions

Beazley’s D&O offering targets privately held companies of all sizes. The Hartford offers management-liability coverages, including D&O, to nonprofit organizations, publicly traded companies and privately held companies, with a separate management and professional liability track for financial institutions, including adviser D&O, private fund liability and registered fund liability. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/executive-risk-usa/do-private-companies/ "D&O - Private Companies") [9](https://www.thehartford.com/management-liability-insurance "Management Liability Insurance | Get a Quote")

A public company, nonprofit or financial institution is in The Hartford’s described audience. Beazley’s reviewed private-company product does not describe those tracks. [9](https://www.thehartford.com/management-liability-insurance "Management Liability Insurance | Get a Quote") [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/executive-risk-usa/do-private-companies/ "D&O - Private Companies")

### Limits Beazley Publishes

Beazley advertises private-company D&O limits up to US $20 million. The Hartford’s reviewed materials do not publish a D&O limit figure. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/executive-risk-usa/do-private-companies/ "D&O - Private Companies") [9](https://www.thehartford.com/management-liability-insurance "Management Liability Insurance | Get a Quote")

## What to Confirm in D&O Insurance Quotes

- Ask The Hartford whether D&O would sit in Private Choice Premier or on a Business Owner’s Policy, and whether you are on the public, private, nonprofit or financial-institution track. [9](https://www.thehartford.com/management-liability-insurance "Management Liability Insurance | Get a Quote")
- Ask Beazley for Excess Side A, the defense election and admitted versus surplus paper. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/executive-risk-usa/do-private-companies/ "D&O - Private Companies") [3](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/execuguard-combined-epl-do-and-fiduciary "Execuguard (Combined EPL, D&O, and Fiduciary)")
- Compare quoted limits; Beazley advertises a US $20 million maximum, and The Hartford’s reviewed materials do not publish a D&O limit. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/executive-risk-usa/do-private-companies/ "D&O - Private Companies") [9](https://www.thehartford.com/management-liability-insurance "Management Liability Insurance | Get a Quote")
- Confirm the issuing legal entity on both quotes. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/executive-risk-usa/do-private-companies/ "D&O - Private Companies") [9](https://www.thehartford.com/management-liability-insurance "Management Liability Insurance | Get a Quote")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | Beazley D&O – Private Companies | The Hartford Directors and Officers Insurance (D&O) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | Beazley underwrites private-company directors and officers (D&O) liability itself, offered as a standalone product on its D&O - Private Companies page and bundled with employment practices and fiduciary liability coverage in its ExecuGuard package policy. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/executive-risk-usa/do-private-companies/ "D&O - Private Companies") [3](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/execuguard-combined-epl-do-and-fiduciary "Execuguard (Combined EPL, D&O, and Fiduciary)") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: US private-company D&O as described on the two reviewed product pages; does not establish which entity issues a particular policy..) | The Hartford's D&O coverage is one of five options in its Private Choice Premier management-liability package, and can also be added to a Business Owner's Policy. [9](https://www.thehartford.com/management-liability-insurance "Management Liability Insurance | Get a Quote") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Management liability product page as read 2026-09-23..) |
| Issuing Insurer | Neither the D&O - Private Companies page nor the ExecuGuard page names the specific Beazley insurance entity that issues the policy; ExecuGuard states both admitted and non-admitted versions are available, so the issuing carrier depends on the policy placed. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/executive-risk-usa/do-private-companies/ "D&O - Private Companies") [3](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/execuguard-combined-epl-do-and-fiduciary "Execuguard (Combined EPL, D&O, and Fiduciary)") (Evidence: Not found in reviewed sources; scope: Both product pages as read on 2026-09-23; the issued policy's declarations control the actual insurer..) | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
| Who It’s For | The D&O page targets privately held companies of all sizes facing litigation such as employment allegations, fraud and misrepresentation claims, without a stated employee-count or revenue threshold on that page. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/executive-risk-usa/do-private-companies/ "D&O - Private Companies") [3](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/execuguard-combined-epl-do-and-fiduciary "Execuguard (Combined EPL, D&O, and Fiduciary)") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Private-company D&O only; ExecuGuard buyers can additionally choose to share limits across D&O, EPL and fiduciary coverages..) | The Hartford's management-liability coverages, including D&O, are offered to nonprofit organizations, publicly traded companies and privately-held companies, with a separate management and professional liability track for financial institutions (adviser D&O, private fund liability, registered fund liability, among others). [9](https://www.thehartford.com/management-liability-insurance "Management Liability Insurance | Get a Quote") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Management liability product page as read 2026-09-23..) |
| Coverage Features | The D&O product lets the policyholder choose between a "duty to defend" or "pay on behalf" claim-handling structure, and Beazley says it pays 100% of defense costs for covered loss. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/executive-risk-usa/do-private-companies/ "D&O - Private Companies") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: D&O - Private Companies product page; actual defense obligations and cost-sharing are set by the issued policy..)<br><br>Beazley offers a dedicated additional Excess Side A limit that responds for individual directors and officers when the company cannot indemnify them or the underlying limit is exhausted, plus an optional employed-lawyers errors-and-omissions extension. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/executive-risk-usa/do-private-companies/ "D&O - Private Companies") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: D&O - Private Companies product page; availability and pricing of the extension depend on underwriting..) | The Hartford says D&O helps protect directors and officers from mistakes or wrongful acts in managing the company, covering legal fees for claims from employees, vendors, competitors, investors or customers; its example is an employee suing for wrongful termination. [9](https://www.thehartford.com/management-liability-insurance "Management Liability Insurance | Get a Quote") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Management liability product page as read 2026-09-23. General coverage description; the issued policy controls..) |
| Limits and Retentions | Beazley advertises private-company D&O limits up to US $20 million, on either an admitted or non-admitted (surplus lines) basis; actual limits and retentions are set by underwriting and appear on the declarations. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/executive-risk-usa/do-private-companies/ "D&O - Private Companies") [3](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/execuguard-combined-epl-do-and-fiduciary "Execuguard (Combined EPL, D&O, and Fiduciary)") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Advertised maximum capacity, not a guaranteed quote amount..) | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
| Risk Services | D&O policyholders get pre-approved choice-of-counsel flexibility, and law-firm insureds can access a bespoke executive-risk wording through Beazley's related Practice Protect product. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/executive-risk-usa/do-private-companies/ "D&O - Private Companies") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: D&O - Private Companies product page; scope and terms of the Practice Protect wording were not independently reviewed..) | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
| How to Apply | Beazley lists a downloadable EPL renewal application as a tool on the D&O page and names regional Executive Risk underwriters and brokers as contacts, but the reviewed page does not describe a self-service online quoting flow for new D&O business. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/executive-risk-usa/do-private-companies/ "D&O - Private Companies") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: D&O - Private Companies product page as read on 2026-09-23; buyers typically work through a broker or underwriter contact..) | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
| Claims Support | Beazley illustrates its D&O claims approach with a securities class-action and shareholder derivative-action scenario in which its claims team worked with the insured's defense counsel toward a dismissal, avoiding a settlement; this is a single company-reported example, not audited claims-outcome data. [3](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/execuguard-combined-epl-do-and-fiduciary "Execuguard (Combined EPL, D&O, and Fiduciary)") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: ExecuGuard page scenario section; outcome statistics are not independently verified..) | Not described in the reviewed sources. |

## Full Comparison

- [Beazley vs The Hartford](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-the-hartford): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims.
- [What Is Directors and Officers Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/directors-officers): Directors and officers insurance can help pay for covered claims against company leaders over decisions they make in running the business.
- [Beazley vs The Hartford Commercial Property Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-the-hartford/commercial-property)
- [Beazley vs The Hartford Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-the-hartford/crime)
- [Beazley vs The Hartford Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-the-hartford/cyber)
- [Beazley vs The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-the-hartford/employment-practices)
- [Beazley vs The Hartford Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-the-hartford/fiduciary)
- [Beazley vs The Hartford General Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-the-hartford/general-liability)
- [Beazley vs The Hartford Hired and Non-Owned Auto Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-the-hartford/hired-non-owned-auto)
- [Beazley vs The Hartford Management Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-the-hartford/management-liability)
- [Beazley vs The Hartford Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-the-hartford/professional-errors-omissions)
- [Beazley vs The Hartford Tech E&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-the-hartford/technology-errors-omissions)
- [Alliance Risk vs Beazley D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-beazley/directors-officers)
- [Alliance Risk vs The Hartford D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-the-hartford/directors-officers)
- [Amelia Risk vs Beazley D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-beazley/directors-officers)
- [Amelia Risk vs The Hartford D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-the-hartford/directors-officers)
- [Beazley vs CFC D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-cfc/directors-officers)
- [Beazley vs Chubb D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-chubb/directors-officers)

## Sources

### Beazley

1. [MediaTech for Small Businesses](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/small-business-solutions-usa/mediatech-for-small-businesses/). Beazley; Opening product description; What we offer: E&O (Tech and Professional), Media, Cyber coverage includes; How can we help; SME placement paragraph; Tools & Resources. Accessed 2026-09-16.
2. [Legal Information](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/legal-information-en/). Beazley; Website conditions: US jurisdiction availability, surplus lines and policy wording disclaimers; Beazley plc identity. Accessed 2026-09-16.
3. [Execuguard (Combined EPL, D&O, and Fiduciary)](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/execuguard-combined-epl-do-and-fiduciary). Beazley; What we offer: separate or shared limits among EPL, D&O and fiduciary; Limits up to US $20,000,000, both admitted and non-admitted available; Examples or Scenarios: California securities class action/derivative action. Accessed 2026-09-23.
4. [Virtual Care](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/healthcare-usa/virtual-care). Beazley; Available Coverages; Who we can help; Where is this offered. Accessed 2026-09-16.
5. [D&O - Private Companies](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/executive-risk-usa/do-private-companies/). Beazley; What we offer; How can we help: duty to defend/pay on behalf, 100% defense for covered loss, Excess Side A limit, private placement coverage, Practice Protect for lawyers; Up to US $20,000,000; Tools & Resources: EPL_RenewalApp. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### The Hartford

6. [Legal Notice](https://www.thehartford.com/legal-notice). The Hartford; The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. holding-company description; no representation that all products are available in all locations; P&C writing-company table as of December 31, 2025 including Hartford Fire (NAIC 19682) and Hartford Underwriters (NAIC 30104); life writing companies including Hartford Life and Accident (NAIC 70815). Accessed 2026-09-16.
7. [SaaS Insurance for Your Business](https://www.thehartford.com/business-insurance/saas-insurance). The Hartford; Audience list (software startups, SaaS, IT consulting); Get a Business Owner’s Policy; What Is Business Owner’s Policy Insurance?; general liability introduction and Get a Quote; Get Commercial Property Insurance; Commercial Property Insurance for Your Business; Benefits of The Hartford’s WC Insurance for Employers and Employees; cyber insurance and data breach descriptions; Get a quote for cyber insurance; EPLI introduction and Private Choice Premier; add-ons (workers’ compensation, data breach, commercial auto); technology professional liability mention; small-business availability banner; industry-average premium footnote; footnote 2 state restrictions; footer product-availability disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-16.
8. [Find a Local Insurance Agent](https://www.thehartford.com/find-an-agent). The Hartford; Small-business and midsize agent locators; FAQ that buyers can purchase without an agent by calling or quoting online; statement that agents may charge fees. Accessed 2026-09-16.
9. [Management Liability Insurance | Get a Quote](https://www.thehartford.com/management-liability-insurance). The Hartford; Directors and Officers Insurance (D&O) section; Who Does Management Liability Insurance Protect?; Management Liability Insurance for Nonprofit/Publicly Traded/Financial Institutions organizations. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### D&O Insurance Guide

10. [Glossary of Business Insurance Terms](https://www.thehartford.com/business-insurance/glossary-of-business-insurance-terms). The Hartford; Directors and Officers Liability Insurance; Errors and Omissions Insurance; Employment Practices Liability Insurance. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Updated 2026-09-23. Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this research and works in the commercial insurance market. The comparison applies the same criteria to both providers. [Editorial policy](https://spot.insure/editorial-policy). To suggest a correction, [contact Spot](https://spot.insure/contact) with the page URL and supporting source.

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