Kinsale Capital Group has announced that president and chief operating officer Brian D. Haney will retire on March 2, 2026, marking the end of a two-decade career in the specialty insurance sector.
Haney (pictured) has also been elected to Kinsale's board of directors, effective Oct. 23, and will continue contributing to the company as a senior adviser after his retirement, focusing on investor relations.
As part of its leadership transition, Kinsale promoted Stuart P. Winston to executive vice president and chief underwriting officer. Winston, who joined the company in 2010, will continue to oversee underwriting operations. Chairman and CEO Michael P. Kehoe will take on the additional role of president following Haney’s departure.
Haney has held several leadership positions since joining Kinsale, including chief actuary, senior vice president, and executive vice president before becoming president and COO in March 2024. His career spans key actuarial and operational roles across several insurers, including James River Insurance Co. and Colony Insurance Co., where he served as chief actuary. He began his career at GEICO as an actuarial associate and later held a business management role at Capital One Financial Corp.
Winston brings more than 20 years of underwriting experience to his new position. Over his 15-year tenure with Kinsale, he has taken on increasing responsibility within the underwriting division, helping to shape the company’s disciplined approach to specialty risk.
Kinsale’s leadership changes come as the excess and surplus (E&S) market continues to grow, driven by rising demand for coverage in hard-to-place and emerging risks. Industry analysts have noted that the E&S segment has expanded steadily in recent years due to capacity constraints in the admitted market and tightening underwriting standards across commercial lines.
The Richmond, Virginia-based company is among the fastest-growing E&S insurers in the US, maintaining a focus on underwriting profitability and niche risks. The company’s consistent financial performance and conservative reserving practices have supported its Best’s Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent), reflecting stability amid continued market competition and rate moderation across the specialty segment.
