---
title: "Cowbell vs Relm Insurance D&O Insurance"
description: "Cowbell’s D&O is Zurich admitted Select Plus paper via E&S wholesalers; Relm sells D&O through brokers and does not name an issuer on its Financial Lines page."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-relm/directors-officers"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-23"
---

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# Cowbell vs Relm Insurance D&O Insurance

Cowbell’s D&O is Zurich admitted Select Plus paper via E&S wholesalers; Relm sells D&O through brokers and does not name an issuer on its Financial Lines page.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate Cowbell and Relm Insurance 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

Cowbell distributes a Zurich-underwritten private-company D&O module on admitted paper through appointed E&S wholesalers. Relm describes D&O as leadership-asset protection sold through insurance brokers and does not name a specific issuing insurer on the reviewed Financial Lines page. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance")

## What Is Cowbell Insurance?

Cowbell is a specialty-insurance platform and agency focused on cyber risk for small and midsize businesses. Its U.S. catalogue also includes combined Technology E&O and cyber products and a Zurich management-liability offering distributed through appointed wholesalers. [1](https://cowbell.insure/ "Cowbell") [2](https://cowbell.insure/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/CB-US-PrimeTech-Overview-1.pdf "Prime Tech Product Overview") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus")

[Cowbell profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cowbell)

## What Is Relm Insurance?

Relm is a specialty insurance business serving emerging industries. Its AI range distinguishes developer liability, gaps in existing liability insurance and losses from third-party AI failures. [5](https://relminsurance.com/relm-launches-us-mga/ "Relm Launches US MGA") [6](https://relminsurance.com/relm-insurance-launches-ai-suite/ "Relm Launches AI Liability Solutions")

[Relm Insurance profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/relm)

## What Is Directors and Officers Insurance?

Directors and officers liability insurance addresses covered claims alleging wrongful acts in managing an organization. [8](https://www.thehartford.com/business-insurance/glossary-of-business-insurance-terms "Glossary of Business Insurance Terms")

## Key Differences in D&O Insurance

### Named Zurich Paper Versus Unnamed Issuer

Cowbell and Zurich say Select Plus modules, including D&O, are offered on Zurich admitted paper. Relm’s reviewed Financial Lines page does not name a specific issuing insurer for D&O placements; Relm’s separate legal-information and fronting-partner pages describe Relm Insurance Ltd. and an external fronting insurer generally, not tied to this line. [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance")

### Wholesaler API Versus Broker Channel

Cowbell’s module is reached only by appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers through the platform API and is not sold directly to businesses. Relm sells D&O through insurance brokers—its page says brokers can use Relm to protect clients’ leadership teams—and does not describe a direct online quote. Both paths go through intermediaries, but one is a Zurich wholesaler API and the other is Relm’s broker channel. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance")

### Eligibility Language

Cowbell targets private companies under 250 employees and $50 million in assets in listed industries. Relm’s reviewed D&O material describes coverage that generally protects directors’ and officers’ personal assets against claims from shareholders, regulators, competitors or employees, and notes startups especially needing it to attract executives, without the same employee-and-asset numeric gate. Relm’s reviewed D&O page does not describe dedicated claims-advocacy services beyond that coverage description. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance")

## What to Confirm in D&O Insurance Quotes

- Ask Relm which entity would issue the policy and whether a fronting insurer is involved for this line. [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance")
- Confirm Cowbell’s 250-employee and $50 million asset targets. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")
- Ask which broker would place Relm D&O and which wholesaler would access Cowbell. [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance") [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")
- Get limit and retention figures, which neither reviewed D&O page publishes. [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Private Company D&O | Relm Directors and Officers Liability Insurance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | Private Company D&O is one module within Cowbell's distribution of Zurich's Select Plus management liability product; Cowbell gives Zurich-appointed E&S wholesalers platform access, and Zurich underwrites the module. Zurich's own page labels this module 'Private Management and Company Liability' rather than plain 'D&O.' [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Management liability page intro and module list; Zurich page module-name section..) | Relm markets D&O liability as a line brokers can place through Relm for their clients, describing custom coverage rather than a one-size-fits-all policy. [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Relm line-of-business page (Relm sells through brokers); not a statement identifying the issuing insurer for a given placement..) |
| Issuing Insurer | Cowbell and Zurich both say the Select Plus modules, including D&O, are offered on Zurich admitted paper. Zurich's site footer names 'Zurich American Insurance Company' in its copyright notice, but neither page states that entity is the specific policy issuer for this D&O module. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Management liability page intro; Zurich page intro and footer..) | The reviewed Financial Lines page does not name a specific issuing insurer for D&O placements; Relm's separate legal-information and fronting-partner pages describe Relm Insurance Ltd. and an external fronting insurer generally, not tied to this specific line. [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Line-of-business page as read on 2026-09-23; a specific placement's insurer is product- and jurisdiction-specific..) |
| Who It’s For | Cowbell targets this D&O module at private companies with under 250 employees and under $50M in assets, in industries such as technology, construction, manufacturing, hospitality, and retail. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: FAQ 'What size accounts are targeted?' and Target industries list..) | Relm targets companies in disruptive or fast-changing sectors, naming Web3 founders, biotechnology leaders and AI pioneers as examples, and says any company with a board benefits, with startups especially needing it to attract executives. [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Financial Lines page framing; not a guarantee of eligibility for a particular company..) |
| Coverage Features | Cowbell describes D&O liability as protecting the personal assets of directors and officers and the company's financial assets against claims alleging wrongful acts in their capacity as directors and officers. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?'..) | Relm says D&O coverage generally protects directors and officers' personal assets by covering legal fees, settlements and financial losses when they are held liable for decisions made managing the company, including claims from shareholders, regulators, competitors or employees. [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Financial Lines page general description; Relm notes coverage can differ by carrier, and the issued policy and declarations control..) |
| Limits and Retentions | Neither the Cowbell page nor Zurich's own Select Plus page, both read in full, publishes D&O limit or retention amounts. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Cowbell page and Zurich page, both read on 2026-09-23..) | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
| Risk Services | Cowbell frames D&O coverage as a way to help attract and retain directors and officers by giving them personal-asset protection, and says the product covers legal fees, settlements, and other defense costs for the company and its management. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: FAQ 'Why does my company need management liability coverage?'..) | The reviewed D&O page does not describe dedicated risk-control, governance-advisory or claims-advocacy services beyond the general coverage description. [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance") (Evidence: Not found in reviewed sources; scope: Financial Lines page as read on 2026-09-23..) |
| How to Apply | This D&O module is accessed only by appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers through the Cowbell platform's API; it is not sold directly to businesses. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: FAQ 'How can I access the Zurich Select Plus management liability product through Cowbell?'..) | Relm sells D&O through insurance brokers (its page says brokers can use Relm to protect clients' leadership teams); it does not describe a direct online quote. [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Financial Lines page framing; consistent with Relm's broader broker-distribution model described on its legal-information and US MGA pages..) |

## Full Comparison

- [Cowbell vs Relm Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-relm): 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.
- [Cowbell vs Relm Insurance Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-relm/crime)
- [Cowbell vs Relm Insurance Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-relm/cyber)
- [Cowbell vs Relm Insurance Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-relm/employment-practices)
- [Cowbell vs Relm Insurance Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-relm/fiduciary)
- [Cowbell vs Relm Insurance Tech E&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-relm/technology-errors-omissions)
- [Alliance Risk vs Cowbell D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-cowbell/directors-officers)
- [Alliance Risk vs Relm Insurance D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-relm/directors-officers)
- [Amelia Risk vs Cowbell D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-cowbell/directors-officers)
- [Amelia Risk vs Relm Insurance D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-relm/directors-officers)
- [Beazley vs Cowbell D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-cowbell/directors-officers)
- [Beazley vs Relm Insurance D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-relm/directors-officers)

## Sources

### Cowbell

1. [Cowbell](https://cowbell.insure/). Cowbell; What We Do; Assess, Insure, Respond and Improve; U.S. navigation; footer legal disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-15.
2. [Prime Tech Product Overview](https://cowbell.insure/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/CB-US-PrimeTech-Overview-1.pdf). Cowbell; PDF pp. 1–4: non-admitted combined Technology E&O and cyber for technology businesses up to $1 billion; up to $5 million; surplus lines in 50 states; edition PRIME TECH US0001 1025. Accessed 2026-09-16.
3. [Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability). Zurich North America; Intro on the Zurich/Cowbell collaboration; module name 'Private Management and Company Liability'; FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?' (identical to Cowbell's page); Targeted industries list; footer copyright. Accessed 2026-09-23.
4. [Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/). Cowbell; FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?' (D&O definition); FAQ 'Why does my company need management liability coverage?' (Protection for Directors and Officers, Legal Expense Coverage, Attracting and Retaining Talent bullets); Target industries list. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Relm Insurance

5. [Relm Launches US MGA](https://relminsurance.com/relm-launches-us-mga/). Relm Insurance; Opening paragraphs describing US MGA and distribution partners. Accessed 2026-09-16.
6. [Relm Launches AI Liability Solutions](https://relminsurance.com/relm-insurance-launches-ai-suite/). Relm Insurance; NOVAAI, PONTAAI and RESCAAI: Applicable Users and Coverage Highlights. Accessed 2026-09-16.
7. [Financial Lines Insurance](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/). Relm Insurance; Directors and Officers (D&O) Liability Insurance: What Is D&O Liability Insurance?; Risk Is Part of the Role. Personal Exposure Doesn't Have to Be.; What Does D&O Insurance Cover?. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### D&O Insurance Guide

8. [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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