Applied Systems has appointed company president Graham Blackwell (pictured, left) as its next chief executive officer, with current CEO Taylor Rhodes (pictured, right) set to remain in post for the next two quarters to oversee a planned handover.
The Chicago-based insurance technology provider said Blackwell will formally assume the CEO role just ahead of its Applied Net 2026 user conference in September. Rhodes, who has led Applied for the past seven years, will work alongside him through the transition.
The appointment lands in a market where agency management systems (AMS) and connectivity platforms have become critical infrastructure for North American P&C distribution. The company is framing the move as the next phase in a more than 40‑year history in insurance technology, with a particular emphasis on accelerating its use of AI across agency and carrier customers.
Blackwell currently serves as president of Applied Systems, overseeing the company’s strategic growth business units along with corporate development, acquisitions and strategic planning. He joined Applied in 2020 and has been closely involved in the firm’s “Digital Roundtrip of Insurance” strategy, which aims to connect the full workflow between insureds, agencies, carriers and other partners.
Since then, he has led initiatives that have expanded Applied’s footprint, including the acquisition of comparative rater and agency platform EZLynx, the launch of payment solution Applied Pay and its expansion into broader financial management, increased investment in benefits, a “better together” integration strategy connecting Applied and data‑exchange arm Ivans, and the acquisitions of AI‑focused risk and data platforms Planck and Cytora.
As for Rhodes, he described the past seven years as a period of “transformational investment and growth” for Applied, highlighting work with Blackwell to “reinvigorate” innovation, modernize core management systems and invest in connectivity around the Digital Roundtrip of Insurance.
Rhodes will stay on through the transition period, with the company signaling continuity in its strategy toward cloud‑based systems, connectivity and AI‑enabled tools for agencies, carriers and other market participants.
Meanwhile, Sameer Narang, chairman of Applied and partner at private equity owner Hellman & Friedman, said Blackwell’s promotion comes after “nearly six years of success" at the firm.
“We are delighted to welcome Graham as Applied’s new CEO as we enter the next chapter of Applied’s success,” Narang said. “For nearly six years, Graham has had an incredible track record of success at Applied. His proven leadership ability, customer-centric approach, and intense focus on bringing the value of AI to life for the broader insurance industry in ways that redefine how work will be done for the better are incredibly exciting.”
Narang also paid tribute to Rhodes’ tenure, pointing to significant growth in Applied’s core business and expansion “into new segments of the value chain” during his time as CEO.
“Taylor’s outstanding leadership and strategic vision have driven tremendous innovation at Applied. The company’s core business has grown significantly over the years and has expanded into new segments of the value chain that create immense growth paths as he hands the reins to Graham,” he said. “We are grateful for all of Taylor’s many contributions and look forward to his continued leadership through this transition.”
