CFC Brings on Dan Trueman, Jason Hart 

In January, specialist insurer CFC announced the hiring of Dan Trueman as chief underwriting officer and Jason Hart in a newly created role as head of proactive cyber.

Dan Trueman, chief underwriting officer, CFC

Jason Hart, head of proactive cyber, CFC

Trueman is replacing Andy Holmes, the current CUO as he is stepping into the role of CEO at the company. He came to CFC from AXIS Insurance, where he served as Global Head of Cyber.

“Dan has also been a key figure in cyber for many years and his experience in this sector will clearly prove invaluable given our position as one of the world’s leading cyber markets,” Holmes said in a press release. “I have no doubt that he will play a pivotal role in helping CFC identify new niche areas where we can add value and work with our underwriters to ensure we write profitable and sustainable business.”

Hart will continue the development of CFC’s cyber threat analysis, vulnerability and threat detection service. He comes to the role from Rapid7, a cybersecurity platform, where he was chief technology officer – EMEA.

​​“Jason combines his technical skills with a pragmatic view on security, the ability to build teams, and to drive innovation and disruptive offerings at a global scale. I can’t think of a better person to help us accelerate the evolution of our proactive cyber service with new cutting-edge proprietary technology,” Jonathan Fletcher, chief technology officer at CFC, said in a press release.

Ascot Group Promotes Elizabeth Johnson to Group COO

Elizabeth Johnson, formerly COO of North America Insurance with Ascot Group, is ascending to the role of Group Chief Operating Officer, the company announced in January.

She came to Ascot in 2020 as chief underwriting officer for North America and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming COO of North America Insurance in 2022. She worked as a managing director at Nationwide, prior to joining Ascot, and before that held various senior underwriting and management roles at AIG, where she worked for nearly two decades.

“Since joining the company nearly four years ago, Elizabeth has consistently demonstrated the strategic vision and execution skills needed to drive and support our Group’s success,” Jonathan Zaffino, Group CEO and President at Ascot, said in a press release.

“Her efforts have been instrumental in enhancing our operational efficiencies and underwriting discipline, and in delivering advancements in our IT capabilities. Elizabeth is a strong advocate of our authentic culture and embodies the Ascot Way through collaborative engagement, strong leadership, and a commitment to exemplary execution in all areas of the business.”

Beazley Names Patricia Kocsondy Head of Global Cyber Digital Risks

Patricia Kocsondy, head of global cyber digital risk, Beazley

Patricia Kocsondy has been promoted at Beazley from head of U.S. cyber and technology to head of global cyber digital risks. In her new role, she will set the global product and distribution strategy for cyber businesses with less than $250 million in revenue.

Prior to working at Beazley, she was employed as a cyber underwriter for more than a decade.

“Beazley’s cyber underwriting continues to grow,” Paul Bantick, global head of cyber risks at Beazley, said in a press release.

“Today we underwrite more than $1 billion of cyber premium globally and expect significant growth in the sub $250 million market in the coming years, making now the right time for a cyber leader of Patricia’s experience and skill to head the ongoing development of our cyber offering for this important segment of business.”

Phil Johnson to Lead APAC expansion at Price Forbes

Price Forbes, a division of Ardonagh Specialty, is continuing its expansion into Asia and the Pacifics with the hiring of Phil Johnson as chief executive designate of Asia Pacific. The plan is for him to move into the position of CEO, when the current CEO, Stephen Britten becomes executive chairman of Price Forbes Asia. These changes are subject to regulatory approval. He will be based in Singapore.

Johnson will be responsible for broadening the company’s ’ (re)insurance broking platform, linking trading throughout the region, working closely with the wider Ardonagh Specialty teams in London and continuing the company’s expansion through Asia.

“We are delighted to have Phil join our business. His knowledge and drive in building and scaling broking teams and his experience in both wholesale and facultative (re)insurance will be key to fuel our ambitious growth targets in the APAC region. His joining further demonstrates our commitment to provide our clients with the best practitioners in the market,” Britten said in a press release.

Johnson comes to Price Forbes from Miller Insurance LLP. There, he set the company’s strategy for wholesale property, casualty and financial lines as head of casualty and chair of the Australasian territorial group. Prior to that, he worked in politics.

“I have spent my career providing specialist solutions to clients looking for an alternative to the big 3 brokers. Ardonagh’s unparalleled London growth journey means it has the unique breadth of talent, scale, and entrepreneurial zeal to be the broker of choice for independent clients seeking competitive advantage,” Johnson said in a press release.

“Asia is the fastest growing major insurance market in the world and with the strength of the London and Bermudan businesses supporting us, I’m looking forward to working with the teams in Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia to achieve explosive growth in APAC.”

Leadership Changes at World Insurance Associates

At World Insurance Associates, John Peterson has been named chief growth officer, Frank Costa as national growth leader and Joe Klein as an executive vice president in the national accounts practice.   

Peterson is stepping into the role vacated by Costa. He will be in charge of driving revenue growth and offering clients visibility into World Insurance Associates’ resources and will oversee the retail sales infrastructure, among other responsibilities. “John brings a tremendous amount of experience to World, and I am thrilled to have him on the team,” Tom Fitzgerald, president of World Retail, said in a press release.

Costa will drive revenue goals across the business in his new position.

“We are delighted to have John join World and oversee our organic growth initiatives and to have Frank support John and the broader sales team as our new national growth leader role,” Rich Eknoian, chief executive officer of World, said in a press release. “Having this level of expertise in both roles will lead to an improved experience for our clients and partners, which of course is our main goal.”

In separate news, Klein assumed his role in January. He will leverage his 35 years of brokering experience to create tailored risk solutions for clients across industry sectors. His experience ranges across education, heavy manufacturing, energy, power, retail and aviation risks.

“The expertise that Joe brings will not only drive efficiencies across the organization but will drive innovation for our clients, ultimately fueling our next stage of growth,” Jeff Kroeger, EVP and head of World’s commercial lines, said in a press release. “We are confident our clients will benefit from his extensive industry knowledge and dedication to going above and beyond to help them.”

Clyde & Co Expands Chicago Operations with Hiring of Danny Worker

Danny Worker, firm partner, Clyde & Co

Clyde & Co’s North America and global insurance practice continues its expansion by bringing on Danny Worker as a partner in the firm’s Chicago office.

Previously a managing partner at Lewis Brisbois’ Chicago office and a partner in its Phoenix office, Worker’s principal practice areas encompass insurance coverage and bad faith litigation across a number of different sectors, including construction, aviation, transportation, hospitality, marine and energy.

“With this breadth and depth of knowledge in handling complex cases, Danny is uniquely positioned to provide legal counsel on a national basis in liability and coverage litigation, and we are very excited to have him on board,” Eileen King Bower, partner and chair of Clyde & Co’s North American Board, said in a press release.

Eight other attorneys from Lewis Brisbois came with Worker. They are: Senior Counsel Siobhan Murphy, Senior Counsel Lindsay Bowman, Senior Counsel Dawn Johnson, Senior Counsel Charlotte Kormendy, Senior Counsel Michael Roman, Senior Counsel Vince Tomkiewicz, Of Counsel Mary Sitko and Associate Caroline Kim.

“Clyde & Co is a major name in insurance law in North America and globally, and our clients will benefit hugely from our move. Clyde & Co offers an incredible opportunity for my colleagues and me to expand access to global expertise and representation for our clients. I am looking forward to linking up with colleagues across the firm’s insurance group to help clients navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected risk landscape,” Worker said in a press release. &