Global re/insurer Everest has appointed Christopher Kujawa (pictured above) as executive vice president and chief human resources officer, effective Jan. 20, 2026. He will report to president and CEO Jim Williamson and serve on the company's executive leadership team.
Kujawa succeeds Gail Van Beveren, who has served as interim chief human resources officer. Van Beveren will remain with the company for a transition period.
The incoming executive brings more than 25 years of experience in human resources leadership across financial services and technology-enabled business services. He has held roles at both publicly traded and private organizations.
Most recently, Kujawa served as chief human resources officer at Conduent Incorporated, a publicly traded global technology and services company. In that role, he worked closely with the CEO and board during a period of organizational change.
Williamson said Kujawa has "a proven record of elevating leadership, talent, and organizational performance in complex organizations."
He added that Kujawa "brings a collaborative and inclusive leadership style and a clear ability to strengthen culture in direct support of disciplined execution, which will be instrumental as Everest enters its next chapter focused on sustained profitability and long-term value creation."
At Conduent, Kujawa oversaw the company's global HR function and was involved in redesigning its HR operating model. His responsibilities included modernizing systems and analytics as well as supporting executive leadership and workforce strategy.
Prior to Conduent, he held senior human resources leadership positions at American Express and Ally Financial. At those firms, he led organizational effectiveness efforts internationally and supported large-scale corporate restructuring initiatives.
Kujawa holds a master's degree in industrial relations from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor of science degree in economics from South Dakota State University.
The appointment is part of a broader refresh of Everest's senior leadership. The company also named Elias Habayeb as its next executive vice president and group chief financial officer, with that appointment expected to take effect on or about May 1, 2026.
Habayeb will succeed Mark Kociancic, who is retiring after completing the company's first-quarter reporting cycle and will remain as a special advisor during the transition.
