Insurtech Insights takes a closer look at the latest key appointments and what they signal about the evolving landscape of insurance.
Company: FWD
Move: FWD Group Adds Three New Directors to Board, and Richard Sun Po Yuen Retires
FWD Group Holdings Limited announced the appointment of Andrew Weir, Dominic Leung Ka Kui, and Laura Deal-Lacey to the Board of Directors (the “Board”) as well as the retirement of Richard Sun Po Yuen from the Board.
The Board now consists of 13 directors, comprising two executive directors, two non-executive directors and nine independent non-executive directors.
Professor Frederick Ma, GBS, JP, Chairman of the Board, FWD Group, said “We’re delighted to welcome Andrew, Dominic, and Laura to the Board, as we continue to steer FWD’s growth and governance across our 10 markets in Asia. With these appointments, the Board is increasingly diverse with deep business experience in Asia, which is critical to realising the company’s vision of changing the way people feel about insurance.
Company: Tokio Marine
Move: Tokio Marine Kiln expands Aviation team with the appointment of Paul Talbot
Tokio Marine Kiln (TMK), a leading international specialty insurer, has today appointed Paul Talbot as Aviation Underwriter to its Aerospace team.
Talbot brings nearly 20 years of insurance experience in underwriting and broking, most recently serving as Head of Airports and Manufacturers UK at AIG, where he has spent the past 12 years. Prior to this, he spent over seven years at Hayward Aviation.
Talbot’s appointment will further strengthen TMK’s expertise and market leading capabilities in Aviation. TMK is now the largest writer of Aviation risks in the Lloyd’s market by GWP, and offers unrivalled, specialist expertise across every class, including General Aviation, Airlines, Aircraft Leasing, War and Aerospace Liability.
Company: Vig Re
Move: VIG Re Appoints Hong-Wha Ling as Chief People Officer to Drive Talent Strategy
VIG Re has appointed Hong-Wha Ling as its first-ever Chief People Officer, reinforcing its commitment to talent development and strategic growth. The newly created role highlights the reinsurer’s focus on fostering a strong company culture and enhancing employee engagement across its international operations.
Ling will oversee human resources initiatives across VIG Re’s offices in Prague, Munich, and Paris. His role will be instrumental in supporting employee development, encouraging leadership potential, and aligning people strategies with the company’s broader business objectives.
An accomplished HR executive, Ling brings extensive experience in organizational leadership and workforce transformation. Prior to joining VIG Re, he held key leadership positions at ING Bank and NN Group, including Head of HR at NN Group and Chief HR Officer at NN Turkey. Throughout his career, he has focused on driving growth through inclusivity, innovation, and cultural development.
Company: Travelers
Move: Travelers Europe Appoints Mike Lawton as Chief Operating Officer
Travelers Europe has named Mike Lawton as its new Chief Operating Officer. Lawton will report to Chief Executive Officer Matthew Wilson and will be responsible for overseeing the company’s daily operations and strategic implementation.
Lawton brings nearly 20 years of insurance industry experience to the role, encompassing both broking and underwriting. He joined Travelers Europe in 2016, leading its Business Insurance division. Prior to that, he held senior roles at a major international carrier and a UK brokerage firm.
Travelers has a long-standing presence in the European market, operating both in general insurance and through Lloyd’s. Travelers Insurance Company Limited provides business insurance, bond and specialty insurance, and risk management services.
Company: Gravie
Move: Gravie Appoints Steve Wolin as CEO, Focusing on ICHRA Expansion
Gravie, a benefits marketplace, has announced the appointment of Steve Wolin as its new Chief Executive Officer. Wolin succeeds co-founder Abir Sen, who will remain Chairman of the Board. Wolin joins Gravie from Oscar Health, where he served as Chief Operating Officer.
Gravie offers two primary health benefit solutions: Comfort®, a level-funded plan that eliminates premiums and deductibles for common healthcare services, and Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs), designed to assist small and midsize businesses in providing individual market health plans to their employees.
In his new role, Wolin will prioritize expanding Gravie’s ICHRA offerings, refining the company’s network strategy, and developing partnerships with national brokerage firms.
Company: Enact Re
Move: Enact Re Names Marty Scherzer as Chief Executive Officer
Enact Re, a part of Enact Mortgage Insurance Corporation, the primary legal entity of mortgage insurer Enact Holdings, Inc., has appointed Marty Scherzer as its new Chief Executive Officer. The appointment is effective immediately, and Scherzer will be based in New York.
Scherzer brings extensive industry experience to the role, beginning his career as a consultant at Johnson & Higgins, where he spent over 12 years in progressively senior positions.
From 1997 to 2001, Scherzer worked at insurance broker Marsh and its parent company, Marsh McLennan. He then joined global insurer AIG, where he spent more than 14 years in various roles, culminating in his position as President of Alternative Risk Solutions.
Company: Pan-American Life
Move: Pan-American Life names Sherri Lindenberg VP of US Marketing
She will lead marketing efforts for PALIG’s US Life and Accident & Health divisions, supporting the company’s growth strategy in the US market.
Lindenberg, founder of SKLD MarComms, has held leadership roles at Crump Life Insurance Services, Marsh, and Equitable. She will report to Luke Cosme, SVP of U.S. Life Sales, Marketing, and Operations.
“We are pleased to integrate Sherri into our organization and leverage her expertise, connections, and leadership as we look to expand our brands and grow our U.S. presence,” said José S. Suquet, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Pan‑American Life Insurance Group.
Company: New York LIfe
Move: New York Life Real Estate Investors Announces Leadership Transition
New York Life Insurance has announced a planned leadership transition within its $68 billion real estate investment arm, New York Life Real Estate Investors (NYLREI).
Thomas O’Hanlon, currently Managing Director and head of real estate equity, will assume the leadership role at NYLREI at the end of June, succeeding Senior Managing Director Mark Talgo, who will retire. O’Hanlon will continue to lead the real estate equity division in addition to his new responsibilities. He will report to New York Life Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer Tony Malloy and join Malloy’s senior leadership team.
During his tenure as head of real estate equity, O’Hanlon played a key role in expanding New York Life’s real estate equity business from a primarily West Coast-focused advisor to a $10 billion national institutional asset manager. His contributions include expanding into new investment strategies and regions, establishing a third-party business with a multi-investor fund model, and achieving top-quartile investment performance.
Company: Newfront
Move: Newfront Elevates Paige Maisonet to Chief People Officer
Newfront, a commercial insurance brokerage, has announced the promotion of Paige Maisonet to Chief People Officer.
Maisonet will be responsible for overseeing talent acquisition, people operations, and employee experience, aligning Newfront’s people strategy with its overall business objectives.
Since joining Newfront (formerly ABD) in 2015, Maisonet has demonstrated expertise in HR, talent acquisition, and transformational leadership. She was a key member of the executive team during the 2021 merger of ABD and Newfront, helping the company grow from 600 to 800 employees. In 2022, she assumed the Head of People role and played a crucial part in the company’s expansion into new markets, including Boston, Austin, Philadelphia, Chicago, Ohio, and Kentucky.
Company: Hollard Insure
Move: Hollard Insure Appoints Andrew Coutts as CEO
Hollard has announced the appointment of Andrew Coutts as the new Chief Executive Officer of Hollard Insure, its short-term insurance division.
Coutts, a veteran of the financial services industry, succeeds Nash Omar, who will retire on June 30, 2025, after a 44-year career at Hollard, including more than two decades as CEO.
“I’m excited to be joining Hollard, where each day offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact,” said Coutts. “We can help put someone’s life back on track, rebuild businesses, or support new ventures, providing tangible solutions amid uncertainty. Our work in this purpose-driven industry allows us to make a significant difference in the world.”
Company: Willis Re
Move: Willis Re Appoints Paul Graziano as North America Growth Leader
Willis Re, a business within WTW, has announced the appointment of Paul Graziano as its Growth Leader for North America. Graziano will be responsible for developing a unified framework to drive revenue growth across Willis Re in the region.
Graziano brings more than 30 years of industry experience to the role. He joins Willis Re from Marsh, where he most recently served as Managing Director and Global Engagement Partner. His experience includes working with C-suite executives at Fortune 500 companies, as well as entrepreneurs, Centers of Influence (COIs), and emerging growth companies. Prior to Marsh, Graziano was Chief Business Development Officer at JLT before its acquisition. He also spent 18 years at Aon as an Executive Vice President in various leadership positions.
Graziano is based in Denver and is a graduate of Indiana University.
Company: IWC
Move: ICW Group Names Mark Moitoso as President
ICW Group has announced the appointment of Mark Moitoso as its new President. In this role, Moitoso will be responsible for overseeing the company’s underwriting and shared services operations.
Moitoso succeeds Kevin Prior as President, who will continue to serve as the company’s Chief Executive Officer.
“We’re excited to welcome Mark to our leadership team,” said Prior. “His vast experience and proven track record in delivering superior results made him an ideal choice to guide ICW Group to achieve our strategic growth initiatives while continuing to create the best insurance experience possible for our policyholder customers and valued agent partners.”
Moitoso will focus on driving ICW Group’s business growth and will oversee shared services operations and the company’s more than 1,200 team members across multiple offices nationwide. These teams serve policyholders and agents for ICW Group’s various product lines, including workers’ compensation and catastrophe insurance.
Company: Pacific Life
Move: Pacific Life Promotes Neeley and Thompson to Senior Vice President Roles
Pacific Life has announced the promotions of Karen Neeley to Senior Vice President of the Institutional Retirement Solutions Group and Patricia Thompson to Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer.
Neeley, with nearly two decades of experience in financial services, will now oversee the management and growth of the company’s pension risk transfer (PRT) and defined contribution lifetime income (DCLI) businesses. Her responsibilities will include distribution, product development, operations, and customer engagement. Neeley joined Pacific Life in 2023 as Vice President, where she was tasked with building a high-performing sales team focused on growing market share in PRT and Deferred Corporate-Owned Life Insurance (DCOLI).
