A number of US insurance and financial services firms have announced senior leadership changes, board appointments and capital actions in recent days.
USAA has named Chris Curtin (pictured above, left) as chief marketing officer, effective March 2, 2026.
Curtin joins USAA with more than 20 years’ experience in marketing, digital engagement and brand strategy. He most recently served as CMO at Sam’s Club, where he worked to enhance membership value and drive e‑commerce growth.
Previously, he led digital, social and rewards strategy at Bank of America, with a focus on trust‑driven storytelling and loyalty programs. Earlier in his career, he held senior brand and innovation roles at Visa, serving as chief digital officer with responsibility for sponsorships, digital products and platform adoption, and led marketing at Hewlett‑Packard and The Walt Disney Company.
Merchants Insurance Group has appointed Pete Walkup (pictured above, right) as vice president, head of claims, effective February 2026.
Walkup joins Merchants from Donegal Insurance, where he had served as vice president, claims operations since 2022. He brings more than 28 years of claims experience, primarily in leadership roles, including senior positions at Kemper Insurance and State Farm Insurance.
As head of claims, Walkup will oversee all claims operations with an emphasis on operational performance, process modernization and delivering value to policyholders.
The Baldwin Group has announced a long‑planned leadership transition within its underwriting, capacity & technology solutions (UCTS) operating group, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
Amy Carlisle will become CEO of UCTS, succeeding Jim Roche, who will move into the role of executive chairman, UCTS, for a three‑year period. The company said the change reflects a multi‑year succession plan aimed at ensuring continuity and supporting the long‑term strength and performance of the UCTS business.
As CEO, UCTS, Carlisle will oversee the segment’s MGA and wholesale businesses, capacity operations, and finance and accounting functions. She will report to Baldwin Group CEO Trevor Baldwin and join the company’s executive leadership team.
Carlisle has spent the past four years helping to build and scale the company’s MGA platform, MSI. Under her leadership, the business has doubled in size, with expanded and diversified product offerings and strengthened carrier and distribution relationships. Earlier, she served as head of product management at MSI, leading product optimization, actuarial oversight and MGA product development. Prior to joining Baldwin, she held senior roles across personal and commercial lines at Liberty Mutual.
As executive chairman, UCTS, Roche will remain available to advise on the future direction of the business. He will continue to support priorities including the firm’s long‑term strategy around reciprocal exchange offerings, the UCTS technology roadmap, and the adoption of AI and shared platforms across high‑performing UCTS businesses.
Globe Life also appointed Derek Kan and Sandra Phillips to its board on Feb. 25, 2026.
Kan is vice president of business operations at Shopify and previously served as chief business officer at Deliverr. Meanwhile, Phillips is a senior vice presidnet enterprise integrity, chief legal officer, corporate secretary and chief sustainability officer at Toyota Motor North America. She has more than 30 years of legal experience, including over a decade as general counsel and chief legal officer at TMNA and prior partnership roles at major law firms.
The company's board also increased the quarterly dividend to $0.33 per share on all outstanding common stock, payable May 1, 2026, to shareholders of record as of close of business on April 3, 2026.
TDC Specialty Underwriters, part of TDC Group, has promoted Steven Spina to chief underwriting officer.
Spina previously served as executive vice president for TDC Specialty, providing strategic leadership over underwriting across multiple teams. He has more than 40 years of experience in healthcare professional liability underwriting and has held senior roles at OneBeacon Professional Insurance (as President of the Health Care Group), Darwin Professional Underwriters (now AWAC), Medical Protective, Zurich, CNA and Employers Reinsurance Company.
In his new role, Spina will oversee underwriting performance and portfolio profitability and lead strategic underwriting direction for both TDC Specialty Underwriters and Healthcare Risk Advisors (HRA).
