Insurers, insurtechs and brokers have announced a fresh round of leadership changes and strategic hires spanning travel insurance, AI-driven operations, health benefits and property data.
mea Platform hires veteran insurance tech executive
AI‑native insurance technology firm mea Platform has appointed insurance technology sales veteran Julie McKenna (pictured, left) as vice president of sales, North America, as it accelerates growth following a recent funding round.
McKenna joins mea with nearly three decades’ experience across the P&C insurance technology ecosystem, including senior sales leadership roles at Fiserv and Guidewire Software, where she led sales of policy, claims, billing, financial and reinsurance platforms to carriers across the US.
In her new role, McKenna will lead execution of mea’s North American sales strategy, focusing on expanding adoption of mea Operations as carriers and intermediaries seek measurable improvements in speed, cost structure, and underwriting and claims performance.
McKenna said she was attracted by mea’s focus on “real operational execution” rather than experimentation, and that she expects demand to grow as insurers move from manual effort and point solutions towards more integrated AI‑enabled operations.
Former USAA CEO joins Cotality board
Property information, analytics and data‑enabled solutions provider Cotality has appointed former USAA chief executive Wayne Peacock (pictured, right) as an independent member of its board of directors, effective Feb. 18, 2026.
Peacock spent 36 years at USAA, ultimately serving as CEO of the Fortune 100 financial services association, which serves around 14 million military members and their families across banking, insurance and retirement products. He is widely viewed as having led USAA through a period of accelerated digital transformation, operational modernization and economic disruption.
His experience spans large‑scale property and casualty insurance, retail banking, enterprise risk management, asset management, technology, operations, sales and marketing.
Travel Guard CEO to retire after transition to Zurich
Zurich Cover-More has announced the early retirement of Jeffrey Rutledge, CEO of the Travel Guard companies, effective March 1, 2026.
No immediate successor has been announced, but leadership of the Travel Guard operations now sits within Zurich Cover-More’s existing structure.
Elevance Health reshapes leadership around Carelon and Health Benefits
Elevance Health has announced a series of management changes designed to streamline decision‑making and execution across its Carelon healthcare services arm and its health benefits division.
Mark Kaye, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will expand his remit to include oversight of Carelon, which houses Elevance’s healthcare services operations, including pharmacy benefit management, behavioural health, value‑based care and care‑delivery capabilities.
Peter Haytaian will step down from his role as executive vice president and president of Carelon effective May 1, 2026, citing a desire to devote more time to family. He will remain with Elevance as special advisor through Dec. 31, 2026 to support the leadership transition and maintain continuity in Carelon’s operations and client relationships.
Felicia Norwood, executive vice president and chief health benefits officer, will assume responsibility for a consolidated health benefits organisation, bringing together the company’s major commercial and government benefits businesses and core operating functions under a single accountable structure.
Kaye said he looked forward to leading Carelon as it “builds on its strong foundation” and continues to support sustainable growth and long‑term value. Norwood said bringing health benefits together under one structure would strengthen coordination and execution as Elevance continues to serve members and customers.
