The new division, operating within Chubb’s North America Middle Market organization, is designed to enhance service delivery and streamline operations for small and lower middle market businesses.
Rob Poliseno has been appointed Division President, Small & Lower Midmarket, and will report to Ben Rockwell, Division President, Chubb North America Middle Market. Jason Ranucci will serve as Chief Operating Officer, Small & Lower Midmarket, reporting to Poliseno. Both appointments are effective immediately.
The strategic move by Chubb aims to create a more cohesive and efficient approach to serving the small and lower middle market sectors. The consolidation is expected to leverage the strengths of both the Lower Middle Market and Digital Small Business divisions, providing enhanced service and support to clients in these segments.
Commenting on the news, Juan Luis Ortega, Executive Vice President, Chubb Group, and President, Chubb North America, said, “The small business and lower middle market segments present significant growth and expansion opportunities for Chubb. As the distribution landscape continues to evolve, agents and brokers increasingly demand simplicity, efficient and fast underwriting, and seamless digital experiences. This combination integrates our decades-long underwriting experience in the Lower Middle Market with the agility and speed of our Digital Small Business division, allowing us to apply the full power and deep expertise of our team to service clients in this segment and drive growth.”
Poliseno brings over 28 years of industry experience to his new position, including nearly 17 years with Chubb. Previously, he served as Division President, Small Business and North America Digital. His strong background in insurance underwriting and distribution, backed by a proven track record of operational excellence, positions him well to lead Chubb’s Small & Lower Midmarket business.
As COO of the unit, Ortega will have broad operating responsibility – including P&L management and oversight of both field and home office underwriting, as well as product, pricing, portfolio management and analytics. With over 17 years of experience in insurance, he has been serving as Head of North America Lower Middle Market, and was previously Global Chief Underwriting Officer for Small Business.
“Launching this division represents an important milestone in how we serve the small and lower middle market business segment,” said Middle Market President Rockwell.
“Rob and Jason will build on their successes in this space, leveraging our investments in a modern, automated and data-centric digital operating model that differentiates our approach to a wide range of companies across all industry practices and positions this business for robust growth.”
He added: “This division will offer more seamless coverage through a comprehensive suite of products and services, including P&C, Financial Lines, Cyber, Multinational, and Accident & Health, while offering agents the options of either a fully digital/automated experience or a digitally augmented service model.”
