Insurers, brokers and risk-modeling firms are making targeted senior appointments across captives, Latin America, US casualty and catastrophe analytics.
Vermont cements captive leadership with deputy commissioner
The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) has confirmed Christine Brown (pictured, left) as deputy commissioner of its Captive Insurance Division, formalizing a role she has held in an acting capacity since Jan. 1.
Brown joined the Captive Insurance Division in 2003 as an examiner and has held a series of leadership roles, becoming division director in 2022. She also serves as principal staff to the chair of the NAIC Risk Retention Group Task Force and previously worked as an auditor at Ernst & Young and Johnson Lambert.
Brown is just the fourth person to hold the post since 1981, when Vermont passed its Special Insurer Act. Reflecting on her predecessors, Brown said she was “grateful for the three remarkable deputies I was privileged to work so closely with – their leadership and wisdom have helped shape not only my professional growth but the way I lead today.”
The state closed 2024 with 683 licensed captives, $33.1 billion in gross written premium and $231 billion of captive assets under management, ahead of Bermuda and Cayman on active captive count.
Howden adds veteran chair to drive LatAm growth
Howden has appointed José Ignacio Lathrop (pictured, center) as executive chair for Howden Latin America.
Lathrop brings more than 30 years’ experience in the Latin American insurance market. He joins from Marsh, where he was CEO of Marsh Chile with additional responsibility for Argentina and Uruguay, and previously established and built JLT’s Chile operation. In his new role, he will work closely with Sonia Caamaño, CEO, International Growth Markets, to drive organic and inorganic expansion, support country leadership and deepen relationships with key regional and global markets.
Brown & Riding bolsters casualty bench in Houston
US wholesale broker Brown & Riding has added Austin Hebert (pictured, right) to its national casualty practice, reinforcing its contractor-focused casualty capabilities from its Houston office.
Hebert brings nearly a decade of industry experience and specializes in casualty coverage for contractors across construction, energy and environmental risks. Brown & Riding described him as having a “thoughtful, solutions‑oriented approach” and strong expertise in navigating complex contractual requirements.
“Austin brings a strong foundation in contractor casualty placements and a thoughtful, solutions-oriented approach to his work,” said COO Mike Boseman. “His ability to navigate complex contractual requirements and deliver well-structured solutions will further strengthen our national casualty practice. We are excited to welcome him to Brown & Riding.”
KCC hires former CUO/CEO Nixon to deepen re/insurer engagement
Catastrophe modeling specialist Karen Clark & Company (KCC) has appointed industry veteran Deanne Nixon as senior vice president.
Nixon will work directly with insurers and reinsurers “to ensure KCC’s advanced modeling technology and applications continue to deliver high value as market needs evolve.” She started her reinsurance career as an underwriter at CNA Re in Chicago before moving to Bermuda in 2006 with White Mountains Re (Sirius International), where she rose to senior vice president and then president of Sirius Capital Markets. She later served as CUO and then CEO of a Florida insurer and has most recently provided strategic consulting and advisory services to firms including Cincinnati Re and Arbol.
