Marsh vs Travelers: How Do They Compare for D&O Insurance?

Marsh discusses a three-part D&O program for public-company leaders; Travelers insures D&O for private companies, which buy through independent agents.

Travelers insures D&O itself, alone or with its other management-liability covers, and you buy through a Travelers independent agent. Marsh brokers D&O for public, private and nonprofit organizations and warns that ESG scrutiny adds to the claims boards face. ^1,^2,³

What Are the Key Differences Between Marsh and Travelers D&O Insurance?

One Insurer Through an Agent vs a Broker Comparing Insurers

With Travelers you get one insurer's form, sold through its independent agents, covering private, public, nonprofit and financial-institution boards. ³ Marsh places D&O across insurers for public, private and nonprofit organizations, and Marsh McLennan Agency serves middle-market clients. ¹ ² Choose Travelers if you already work with an independent agent and want D&O bundled with its other management-liability covers; choose Marsh if you're a public company, face ESG scrutiny, or want several insurers' terms compared. ³ ¹

Which Claims Each One Prepares You For

Marsh says public-company boards mostly face securities suits, private companies and nonprofits more often face employment claims, and scrutiny of emissions, labor, board diversity and executive pay can add regulatory or litigation pressure. ¹ Travelers lists securities litigation, regulatory actions and breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims among covered allegations but doesn't address ESG. ³

What Should You Confirm in Marsh and Travelers D&O Insurance Quotes?

Ask whether ESG-related investigations count as D&O claims on each form. ¹ ³
Ask Marsh whether cover for the company itself (Side C) is limited to securities claims. ¹
Ask your Travelers agent which Travelers company issues the policy, and ask Marsh which insurer it proposes. ³ ¹
Neither publishes limits or retentions; get them in writing. ¹ ³

Marsh vs Travelers D&O Insurance Compared

Marsh vs Travelers: D&O Insurance: documented features by provider

Criteria	Marsh Directors and Officers Liability (D&O) Insurance	Travelers Directors & Officers (D&O) Liability Insurance
Who It’s For	Marsh says public company directors and officers typically face more securities-lawsuit exposure from shareholders and regulators, while private and non-profit organizations more often face employment-practices claims from customers, vendors or regulators; directors and officers of all organization types can face cyber-related liability exposure. ¹Company-reported. Marsh D&O page, common risks FAQ.	Travelers markets D&O coverage to private companies, public companies, financial institutions and nonprofit organizations with boards of directors, and offers a version specifically for nonprofit organizations. ³Company-reported. Product page "Who is D&O liability insurance right for?" section and nonprofit D&O video segment.
Coverage Features	Marsh says D&O insurance typically has three coverage sides: Side A protects directors' and officers' personal assets when the organization cannot or will not indemnify them; Side B reimburses the organization for indemnifying directors and officers; Side C offers balance-sheet protection when the entity itself is named, generally limited to securities claims for public companies. ¹Company-reported. Marsh D&O page FAQ; illustrative policy structure, not a specific policy form. Marsh says ESG-related stakeholder scrutiny, covering areas such as carbon emissions, renewable-energy use, labor practices, board diversity and executive compensation, can add regulatory, legislative or litigation pressure on directors and officers beyond traditional D&O exposures. ¹Company-reported. Marsh D&O page, What other risks do directors and officers face? section.	Travelers says D&O insurance protects directors and officers from personal losses if sued by employees, vendors, customers or other parties, covering defense costs, settlements and other costs from wrongful-act allegations such as securities litigation, regulatory actions and breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims. ³Company-reported. Product page introduction and "Travelers knows Directors & Officers Liability Insurance" section; exact terms and exclusions are set by the issued policy.
Role in This Line	Marsh's financial and professional liability practice places D&O insurance for public, private and non-profit companies; MMA also places D&O coverage within its executive and professional liability practice for middle-market clients. ^1,²Company-reported. Marsh D&O page and MMA executive and professional liability page.	Travelers underwrites D&O liability insurance as part of its Management & Professional Liability line, sold standalone or alongside other management liability coverages. ³Company-reported. Product page general framing; confirmed against the broader Management and Professional Liability Insurance page.

Criteria

Marsh Directors and Officers Liability (D&O) Insurance

Travelers Directors & Officers (D&O) Liability Insurance

Who It’s For

Marsh says public company directors and officers typically face more securities-lawsuit exposure from shareholders and regulators, while private and non-profit organizations more often face employment-practices claims from customers, vendors or regulators; directors and officers of all organization types can face cyber-related liability exposure. ¹Company-reported. Marsh D&O page, common risks FAQ.

Travelers markets D&O coverage to private companies, public companies, financial institutions and nonprofit organizations with boards of directors, and offers a version specifically for nonprofit organizations. ³Company-reported. Product page "Who is D&O liability insurance right for?" section and nonprofit D&O video segment.

Coverage Features

Marsh says D&O insurance typically has three coverage sides: Side A protects directors' and officers' personal assets when the organization cannot or will not indemnify them; Side B reimburses the organization for indemnifying directors and officers; Side C offers balance-sheet protection when the entity itself is named, generally limited to securities claims for public companies. ¹Company-reported. Marsh D&O page FAQ; illustrative policy structure, not a specific policy form.

Marsh says ESG-related stakeholder scrutiny, covering areas such as carbon emissions, renewable-energy use, labor practices, board diversity and executive compensation, can add regulatory, legislative or litigation pressure on directors and officers beyond traditional D&O exposures. ¹Company-reported. Marsh D&O page, What other risks do directors and officers face? section.

Travelers says D&O insurance protects directors and officers from personal losses if sued by employees, vendors, customers or other parties, covering defense costs, settlements and other costs from wrongful-act allegations such as securities litigation, regulatory actions and breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims. ³Company-reported. Product page introduction and "Travelers knows Directors & Officers Liability Insurance" section; exact terms and exclusions are set by the issued policy.

Role in This Line

Marsh's financial and professional liability practice places D&O insurance for public, private and non-profit companies; MMA also places D&O coverage within its executive and professional liability practice for middle-market clients. ^1,²Company-reported. Marsh D&O page and MMA executive and professional liability page.

Travelers underwrites D&O liability insurance as part of its Management & Professional Liability line, sold standalone or alongside other management liability coverages. ³Company-reported. Product page general framing; confirmed against the broader Management and Professional Liability Insurance page.