Corvus Insurance Names Its First President

Corvus Insurance has named Madhu Tadikonda as its first president.

Tadikonda will focus on collaborating with policyholders, brokers and reinsurers to “face and mitigate the rapidly evolving threats and cyber risks to the core digital assets and online operations of today’s businesses,” according to a press release.

Tadikonda brings over a decade of insurance experience with him to Corvus. He began his insurance career at AIG, serving as both chief data scientist in Commercial Insurance and then global chief underwriting officer.

Tadikonda recently co-founded Archipelago Analytics, a data platform that uses AI to digitize risk for large owners of commercial property. He was also a founding executive at bolttech insurance exchange.

“Corvus continues to bring in the best and brightest minds in both technology and insurance, and Madhu is no exception,” said Phil Edmundson, founder and CEO of Corvus Insurance.

“We are excited to welcome Madhu into the Corvus family during this exciting growth period for the organization as we work together to make this world a safer place.”

IMA Financial Hires New Senior Vice President, Managing Director of Claims

Donna MacConnell, senior vice president, managing director of Claims, IMA Financial Group

IMA Financial Group has hired Donna MacConnell to serve as its new senior vice president, managing director of Claims.

“MacConnell will lead the evolution of IMA’s claims department, which is critical to achieving IMA’s ‘broker of the future’ vision,” according to a press release.

MacConnell has over 30 years of industry experience leading claims and coverage departments and has served as an individual contributor in personal and commercial lines.

She also brings unique expertise as defense counsel, specializing in construction and residential real estate as well as high-value and complex subrogation matters.

Before joining IMA, she was at Lockton as an SVP and director of Claims.

“Donna brings a deep and broad technical background that will benefit IMA clients, her team and other stakeholders,” said Rick Dingman, SVP managing director, IMA Client Advantage.

“She has the desire and vision to challenge current paradigms and processes and create an IMA claim team that leads us into our vision for the future.”

Paragon Insurance Names New Head of Casualty Excess & Surplus

Paragon Insurance Holdings LLC (Paragon) has named Duffy Koller as president of its newly created Casualty Excess & Surplus (E&S) practice.

Paragon CEO, Ron Ganiats commented, “We are pleased to welcome Duffy to Paragon and look forward to growing this new practice.”

“This is a market that has seen significant rate growth in recent years, and we now have the talent to spearhead our practice going forward.”

Koller joins Paragon from AmTrust, where he gained recognition as a key underwriter with a strong distribution and capacity following.

McGriff Hires Senior Broker for Its Energy Practice

Greg Glaser, vice president and marketing account executive, Energy, McGriff

McGriff has hired Greg Glaser as a vice president and marketing account executive in its Energy practice based in Birmingham, Alabama.

Glaser has a decade of large, complex property underwriting experience through roles with Liberty Mutual and AIG. Most recently, he was with Marsh as a property placement specialist based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Glaser holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation.

According to a press release, “Glaser will use his experience to advise, educate, and strategize with Energy clients to efficiently manage their risk while building long-term relationships with their insurance carrier partners.”

Amwins Names New Chief Underwriting Officer

Amwins has appointed Mark Bernacki to the newly created position of chief underwriting officer. He will continue to oversee operations for Amwins Special Risk Underwriters – Amwins’ in-house underwriting facility as well.

Bernacki will be responsible for overseeing the underwriting performance of the company’s delegated authority business, which will include continued investments in actuarial capabilities, claims, portfolio management, and underwriting oversight.

He will also focus on “expanding global underwriting capacity, expanding key market relationships, and developing new products and programs,” per a press release.

“Mark is an exceptional individual who has served as an integral part of our leadership team,” said Scott M. Purviance, chief executive officer of Amwins.

“Focusing on underwriting integrity while driving value for our carrier partners and clients, Mark’s skills and experience will prove invaluable as the company grows and executes our 150-year vision.”

AXA XL Appoints New Leadership in Climate, Cyber and Technology

AXA XL has announced its Public Sector practice group leader, Andy MacFarlane, to the newly created role of head of Climate. Jeremy Gittler has become AXA XL’s new head of Cyber and Technology for the Americas.

Andy MacFarlane, head of Climate, AXA XL

In his new role, MacFarlane will be responsible for developing a single, global climate strategy for AXA XL.

Scott Gunter, CEO of AXA XL, commented, “Andy is charged with embedding our climate strategy across AXA XL from underwriting to claims, to risk and operations ensuring that we meet our climate leadership ambitions.”

“Andy’s expertise and knowledge of our business will allow us to further advance our understanding and response to climate change by ensuring we continue to understand how the climate is evolving and how this impacts our overall strategy.”

MacFarlane started his career at Equitas in London in 2001 before joining the Catlin Group in 2003. After holding various actuarial roles in London and Bermuda, he became the head of Pricing & Analytics for London & Bermuda for AXA XL Reinsurance.

Gittler will manage AXA XL’s Cyber portfolio and will “develop the regional underwriting strategy and product innovation in the Americas,” according to a press release.

Jeremy Gittler, head of Cyber and Technology for the Americas, AXA XL

“Jeremy has demonstrated exceptional leadership managing the cyber claims team at AXA XL for the last 9 years and is well equipped to lead our cyber team in the Americas region,” said David Grigg, chief underwriting officer for Professional Lines & Cyber in the Americas, AXA XL.

“With his background in claims, Jeremy brings a unique perspective to the risks our clients face, and he is widely recognized by our brokers and clients for his thought leadership in the cyber insurance industry.”

Gittler has over 15 years of cyber claims experience, most recently as the practice leader and head of Cyber Claims in the Americas region for AXA XL. Prior to joining AXA XL in 2012, Gittler was a senior complex claim director for Cyber and Technology at AIG.

SiriusPoint Appoints Head of Americas P&C Insurance

Patrick Charles has joined SiriusPoint Ltd (SiriusPoint) as head of Americas Property and Casualty (P&C) insurance. Patrick will be responsible for “managing and growing the company’s U.S. P&C insurance business and expanding key strategic partnerships,” according to a press release.

For more than 20 years, Charles has worked in the insurance industry with roles at McKinsey & Company, Alliance Bernstein and the St. Paul Companies. He began his career as an actuary and is a fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society.

Charles joins Sirius Point from Zurich Insurance Group, where he held North American leadership roles in underwriting and strategy over the past decade.

Prashanth Gagnu, chief operating officer and president of Insurance and Services, said: “We are delighted to welcome Patrick to our team.”

“Our vision is to disrupt the insurance industry via partnerships with innovative, technology-forward entrepreneurs and organizations. We are getting tremendous reception in the market and the addition of Patrick will enable us to accelerate the buildout of our portfolio, as well as the products and services to support these partnerships.”

Risk Strategies Hires Compliance Director of Employee Benefits

Risk Strategies has hired Erica Honig to serve as compliance director of Employee Benefits.

“Having an in-house compliance director in addition to our longstanding relationship with Ogletree and Deakins will allow us to help our clients and prospects navigate those requirements as compliance issues related to group health plans become more and more complex,” said John Greenbaum, head of National Employee Benefits, Risk Strategies.

Prior to joining Risk Strategies, Honig was a senior global benefits manager with a business immigration law firm.

Honig’s responsibilities at Risk Strategies will include “providing the Life and Health team and its clients and prospects with compliance assistance, education, and training with respect to federal, state, and local health and welfare benefits law,” according to a press release. &