The Hartford has announced leadership changes within its underwriting operations, naming Pete Hill (pictured above) as chief underwriting officer of its small business unit.
Hill succeeds John Russo, who has transitioned to the role of chief underwriting officer for the company's global specialty wholesale & international business.
Hill, who brings more than 15 years of experience at The Hartford, will report to Chris Jones, head of the small business unit. In his previous position as vice president of small business product management, he oversaw the Spectrum line of business, managing profit and growth during varying market conditions.
The company noted that Hill played a key role in developing The Hartford's small business underwriting capabilities. In his new position, he will be responsible for leading underwriting strategy and execution, with a focus on consistency, discipline and growth, including excess and surplus lines binding.
Russo, meanwhile, moves into his new role with more than 27 years of service at The Hartford. He will report to Michael Garrison, head of the wholesale & international business.
During his tenure as chief underwriting officer for small business and head of Navigators E&S binding, Russo led efforts to advance underwriting capabilities and strengthen portfolio performance. He also oversaw the modernization of new business quoting processes.
In his expanded role, Russo will guide The Hartford's underwriting strategy across wholesale & international operations. His responsibilities will span a range of global specialty lines, including excess, property, inland marine, specialty and small business.
The Hartford credited Russo with building teams and contributing to strategic initiatives during his time with the company. Both appointments reflect The Hartford's ongoing efforts to align leadership with its business priorities across small commercial and specialty lines segments.
The leadership transition comes as The Hartford reported record financial results in its most recent quarter. For Q3 2025, the company posted net income of $1.1 billion, a 41% increase from the same period last year.
Chairman and CEO Christopher Swift attributed the results to "the strength of The Hartford's franchise, effectiveness of our strategy and ability to deliver differentiated solutions for customers." The company returned $547 million to stockholders during the quarter, including $400 million in share repurchases.
