From niche specialty lines and carrier strategy to employee benefits, MGA M&A and investor relations, Great American Insurance Group, CRC Group, Alliant, DOXA and HUB are all adding experienced leaders in roles that sit close to the market’s key pressure points.
Great American Insurance Group has promoted Kenneth Schneider (pictured, left) to divisional president, specialty equipment, succeeding Victor Villegas, who will retire in April after more than 35 years with the group.
Schneider joined Great American in 1999 and has held a series of increasingly senior roles. Most recently, he served as divisional senior vice president, leading business development, underwriting and product management for the Specialty Equipment division.
For brokers and equipment finance partners, the move signals continuity in Great American’s niche machinery and equipment offering, with leadership passing to an internal candidate steeped in the division’s underwriting and distribution strategy.
Wholesale specialty distributor CRC Group has appointed Christopher Lang (pictured, center) as head of carrier management, based in New York. In the newly defined role, Lang will work closely with CRC’s leadership to advance carrier priorities, oversee relationship management and align carrier strategy with CRC’s distribution and growth objectives.
Lang joins with extensive experience in carrier strategy, placement and digital trading from a global professional services firm, where he most recently served as digital leader for global placement and placement leader for the US and Canada. Earlier roles included senior positions overseeing placement, specialties and key trading partner relationships, and leading FINPRO‑focused teams across management and professional liability lines. He began his career in underwriting management.
“We are excited to welcome Chris to CRC Group. He brings a deep understanding of carrier engagement, strategy, and a track record of successful execution,” said Todd Jones, chief growth officer, CRC Group. “His experience and leadership will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen carrier partnerships and support CRC’s long-term growth objectives.”
Venbrook has named Awais Farooq (pictured, right) as chief claims officer, effective immediately.
With nearly two decades of experience, Farooq will oversee the company's global claims operations. He most recently served as senior vice president of strategy and transformation at Crawford & Co. Prior to that, he held senior leadership roles at State Farm, Chubb, Berkshire Hathaway GUARD.
"I am excited to join Venbrook and help usher in a new level of service in the company's claims division," said Farooq. "Together, we will focus on leveraging data and technology to enhance our services, provide customer advocacy, and deliver exceptional outcomes."
Alliant Insurance Services has added Matt DiPietro as vice president within its employee benefits group. Based in Northern California, he will focus on helping employers manage healthcare costs and build benefits strategies aligned with long‑term growth, supporting clients across a range of industries.
“Matt brings a deep understanding of both ancillary and voluntary benefits, paired with a proven track record of delivering client-centered solutions,” said Kevin Overbey, president, Alliant Employee Benefits. “His experience across diverse industries and collaborative approach will provide a powerful advantage to our growing client base in the West.”
DiPietro joins with a background in market and business development on both the carrier and consulting sides. Prior to Alliant, he served as regional sales director with a national employee benefits and consulting firm, working closely with clients and advisory teams to align workforce needs with organizational goals.
Program and MGA platform DOXA has expanded its executive team with the appointment of Minas Kourouglos as chief corporate development officer, reflecting its focus on growth via M&A and new product launches.
“As DOXA advances its upward growth trajectory, part of our people-first approach is placing strong leaders in critical roles,” said CEO Matt Sackett. “Minas brings deep experience in corporate development, having guided hundreds of M&A transactions over the course of his career. His proven track record, leadership, and emphasis on relationships will strengthen how we identify and partner with specialty insurance businesses and further differentiate DOXA and our offerings.”
Kourouglos will work with DOXA’s leadership to expand acquisition capabilities, strengthen M&A execution and support the group’s long‑term growth strategy. He brings more than a decade of experience leading insurance‑sector M&A at organizations including Trucordia and Capital West Insurance, with a focus on scaling platforms through disciplined, relationship‑driven deals.
Hub International Limited has created the role of senior vice president of investor relations, appointing Sue Lee (pictured immediately above) to lead communications with its growing investor base.
Lee’s appointment follows a Q2 2025 minority investment and valuation milestone that has helped make HUB one of the best‑performing private‑equity‑owned brokerages and one of the largest PE‑backed financial institutions globally. The firm said the new role reflects its focus on strengthening its capital structure and governance as it continues to scale.
Lee will lead HUB’s investor relations program, including earnings communications, investor presentations and stakeholder engagement. She previously held senior investor relations roles at global insurance and financial services brokerages, following earlier experience as an equity research associate at Barclays covering P&C and life insurance, and as an investment banking analyst at BMO Capital Markets.
