Insurance companies and intermediaries are making a wave of senior leadership appointments across their business units. The moves span areas such as underwriting, enterprise risk, human resources and M&A liability, among others.
The Hartford has named Prateek Chhabra (pictured above, left) as its next chief risk officer, effective September 1. He will succeed Robert Paiano, who is retiring after nearly three decades with the company. Chhabra currently serves as chief insurance risk officer and has been with the company since 2018.
Chhabra’s previous roles include senior risk positions at The Hanover Insurance Group and consulting positions with Aon, McKinsey & Company, and Verisk Analytics. The appointment comes amid heightened regulatory focus on enterprise risk frameworks and capital planning. Paiano will remain in an advisory capacity through the transition period.
Higginbotham has appointed Andrew Reutter (pictured above, center) as chief financial officer and chief operating officer. Reutter joins from private equity firm Stone Point Capital, where he worked on capital market activities and advised insurance and financial services clients.
In his new role, Reutter will oversee internal operations, financial strategy and support the firm’s employee ownership model. His appointment aligns with Higginbotham’s continued geographic and revenue growth, with the firm expanding beyond its core regional markets through M&A and organic initiatives.
Fusion Specialty has appointed Robert Underhill (pictured above, right) as head of Americas, overseeing operations across North and South America.
Underhill most recently led Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance’s global transactional liability business. He also held legal and underwriting roles at Locke Lord LLP and Fortress Investment Group.
Fusion, which focuses on M&A insurance and other specialty lines, is looking to grow its presence in the transactional liability segment as deal activity rebounds and demand for structured insurance solutions increases.
WTW has appointed Dale Porfilio as senior director and head of personal and commercial lines business development within its Insurance Consulting & Technology (ICT) segment.
The newly created position is part of WTW’s strategy to expand its footprint among carriers serving retail and commercial markets.
Porfilio most recently served as chief insurance officer at the Insurance Information Institute. He was also president of the Insurance Research Council.
The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers has hired Amber Cowan as chief human resources officer. Cowan will lead the firm’s HR strategy, including recruitment, workforce development and cultural alignment, as Liberty scales across multiple US markets.
Cowan brings HR experience from the insurance, banking and technology sectors, including roles at USI Insurance Services, Silicon Valley Bank and Cincinnati Insurance Company.
Alliant Insurance Services has named Keith Coghlan as vice president in its employee benefits group. Coghlan will support clients across the Southeastern US with benefit program structuring and cost containment strategies.
Coghlan’s appointment is part of Alliant’s ongoing effort to expand its consulting capabilities in healthcare and employee benefits, a key area of demand amid rising medical inflation and compliance challenges.
McGowan Allied Specialty Insurance has strengthened its entertainment and amusement division with four new hires.
Andy Dickerson and Kris Ward join as associate vice presidents, while Joe Newlove and Bryce Reese join as producers. The new appointments bring decades of combined underwriting and brokerage experience to the team.
McGowan Allied, a unit of McGowan Companies, provides specialized insurance for entertainment and amusement risks, including family entertainment centers, amusement parks, and seasonal attractions.
