7 People on the Move

Verisk names independent director to the board, United Educator's president and CEO announces retirement and more in this edition of People on the Move.
By: | September 1, 2022

Verisk Welcomes New Addition to Its Board of Directors

Olumide Soroye, board of directors, Verisk

Verisk has appointed Olumide Soroye as independent director of the company’s board of directors. For three decades, Soroye has held leadership roles across multiple industries.

“Olumide’s experience in software, data analytics, AI, and growth-minded leadership make him an exceptional addition to Verisk’s board,” Verisk CEO Lee Shavel said. “We look forward to working closely with Olumide to ensure that we continue to drive value and positive impact for all Verisk stakeholders including shareholders, clients, employees and partners.”

Soroye is president and CEO of Fortive Corporation’s Intelligent Operating Solutions segment.

Before Fortive, he held leadership roles at CoreLogic, where he handled property intelligence and risk management, and at QuinStreet, where he led the company’s technology and home services business.

Prior to QuinStreet, he was a partner with McKinsey & Company where he was recognized for driving growth and innovation strategies for several world-class technology companies, according to a press release.

United Educators’ President and CEO to Retire in 2023

Risk retention group United Educators Insurance (UE) recently announced the forthcoming retirement of its president and CEO Janice Abraham in the summer of 2023.

Janice Abraham, president and CEO, United Educators Insurance

“On behalf of the board, I would like to express our gratitude to Janice for the marvelous job she has done leading UE over the last quarter-century to its current position as the leading risk management and transfer company serving American education,” said Morgan R. Olsen, chair of UE’s board of subscribers.

“Janice has demonstrated her superb leadership skills by providing a rock-solid foundation for the future of our member-owned captive. Her work has ensured that UE today is in the strongest possible position, developing a cohesive, creative and skilled senior leadership team and keeping a laser focus on our service to education,” he added.

Abraham has served as UE’s president and CEO for the past 25 years. Prior to that, she worked as a UE administrator at Cornell University and at Whitman College.

She has been recognized for leading several noteworthy achievements for the organization during her tenure including “award-winning risk management programs and services driving the adoption of enterprise risk management across public and private educational institutions,” per a press release.

The search for UE’s next president and CEO is soon to begin.

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Canada Appoints New Leadership to Customer Management Team

Andrea Douglass, senior vice president, Customer Management Canada, Swiss Re

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions has appointed Andrea Douglass as senior vice president, Customer Management Canada. Douglass will be responsible for strategic relationships with large corporate customers across Canada, according to a press release.

Based in Toronto, Douglass succeeds Sarah Kestle who will soon retire.

“I am excited to have someone with Andrea’s experience and caliber joining our team,” said Adrian Hall, CEO Canada, Swiss Re Corporate Solutions. “Her strong track record of customer focus, creativity and strategic leadership will boost our drive to provide customer-centric solutions and deliver an exceptional customer experience to advance corporate insurance together.”

Douglass has held various leadership roles of increasing responsibility within the customer and distribution space at Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty and RSA Insurance.

EPIC Expands Talent within Private Client, National Voluntary Benefits, and Greyling Division

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants has hired Chris Novotney to serve as vice president, private client advisor.

Novotney brings over 15 years’ experience collaborating with wealth advisors, family office heads, CPAs and estate planning attorneys to his new role. He will be responsible for relationship development and utilization of EPIC’s private client platform of solutions to secure custom homes, high value collector automobiles, fine art collections, mega-yacht, aviation, personal protection, and cyber solutions, per a press release.

“We are ecstatic to welcome Chris to our team. His proven expertise and track record of success in advising successful individuals and families is supported by his dedication to advocate for clients in their best interests,” said EPIC’s chief growth officer Steve Nelson, to whom Novotney will report.

EPIC has also welcomed Kerry Connor as the new leader of its national voluntary benefits practice. Based in the Philadelphia area, Connor will support EPIC account teams and clients with the design, funding, and delivery of the full spectrum of voluntary benefit offerings, per a press release.

Connor has worked in voluntary benefits for more than 20 years. Early in her career, she led an enrollment firm which served the brokerage community and companies directly in the mid and large markets. She has also served a top national director of sales for cybersecurity companies.

“Kerry brings a great balance of direct sales experience as well as working collaboratively with the brokerage community,” said Craig Hasday, president, national employee benefits practice, EPIC. “I have no doubt that her leadership will bring incredible value to our clients either directly or through their current EPIC advisors. Workforce changes have made customization of family benefits on an individual basis an essential service.”

Roger Guilian, senior vice president, risk management, Greyling division, EPIC

Roger Guilian, J.D., has joined EPIC’s Greyling division as senior vice president, risk management. He will be responsible for “risk avoidance and management consulting; developing legal and legislative initiatives that are critical to large design firms; as well as client service,” per a press release.

He will be based in the Fairhope, Ala. area and will report to Gregg Bundschuh, managing principal, Greyling, a division of EPIC.

Guilian joins Greyling from an ENR Top-100 civil engineering firm where he served as general counsel.

Over the course of nearly two decades as in-house counsel, he “gained extensive experience and knowledge in matters affecting risk and legal exposure to engineers, their firms, and other design professionals, including contracts risk management, professional liability insurance, and defense of errors & omissions claims,” according to the release.

“We are excited for Roger to join Greyling. His experience as a trusted advisor to a large, sophisticated design firm and engineering professionals will deliver immediate and direct value to our clients,” Bundschuh said. “His commitment to client service and professional counsel aligns perfectly with our historic practices.”

Synergy Comp Appoints New President

After more than three decades of service, Synergy Comp Insurance Company’s CEO and founder Lew Kachulis has stepped down as president. Chris Blough will succeed him as president.

Blough has more than 20 years of executive leadership experience. He began his career in financial services and has served as the president of a commercial finance company, the CEO of a credit union, and most recently the CEO of Mennonite Mutual Insurance Company, according to a press release.

Although Kachulis has stepped down as president, he will continue supporting the organization as CEO. Synergy Comp’s board of directors and senior management has expressed support for the change and confidence that Blough is the right person to continue building momentum.

“We are looking forward to Chris joining the team and are excited about Synergy Comp’s long-term future,” Kachulis said.

“Synergy has carved out a unique and valuable space in the work comp industry, and I am excited to work with Lew and the team to grow that value and build on the strong foundation,” Blough said. &

The R&I Editorial Team can be reached at [email protected].

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