Appointments
Brian Benjamin named Head of the Management Solutions Group for Zurich
Brian Benjamin has joined Zurich as Head of the Management Solutions Group (MSG), which is part of Specialty Products in North America Commercial Insurance, led by Brian Winters.
As part of efforts to drive consistency and profitable growth, Brian Benjamin also will have global responsibilities for financial lines; he will report to Global Head of Commercial Insurance Jim Shea in this capacity.
MSG provides solutions that help customers mitigate their risk in areas such as management liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary and crime. The Specialty Errors and Omissions (E&O) unit is also a part of MSG and includes professional liability E&O, employed lawyers, and security and privacy, as well as captive life insurance agents.
Prior to joining Zurich, Brian held executive roles with XL Catlin and AIG. Most recently he served as global head of mergers and acquisitions insurance for XL Catlin. Before that he was global head of management liability and financial institutions at AIG. He has extensive experience dealing with brokers and customers, as well as expertise in underwriting strategy and models, product innovation and strategic initiatives in various management and professional liability lines.
Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in finance from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s in international management from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix.
Michelle Chia elevated to oversee Errors and Omissions for MSG
Michelle Chia has been appointed Head of Errors and Omissions (E&O) for Zurich’s Management Solutions Group. In this role, she will be responsible for managing profit and loss for the following portfolios: miscellaneous professional liability, technology professional liability, and security and privacy liability.
Prior to this appointment, Michelle oversaw the national accounts and middle market underwriting teams for the East and South regions of the same group.
“Under her leadership, the team consistently experienced double-digit growth,” said MSG Head Brian Benjamin. “Her experience in Errors and Omissions, combined with her management experience, will serve her well in this new position.”
Michelle will continue to be based in Zurich’s New York City office.
“I look forward to building on the strong relationships we have with global and national brokers,” Michelle said, “and I’m excited to leverage Zurich’s existing broker relationships to broaden our footprint with regional brokers in areas we have yet to penetrate. Additionally, we will expand our local underwriting presence to align with our middle market growth aspirations.”
Zurich is building out a soup-to-nuts operation to ensure success in the middle market segment: enhanced technology to increase speed to market; robust service offerings including complimentary IT security services that will help small middle-market firms improve their cyber resilience; and refreshed forms to maintain leadership.
“But we will not forget those who helped us grow thus far,” Michelle said. “We will continue to deepen our technical skill set to maintain profitable growth in the large and complex space.”
Prior to joining Zurich in 2009, Michelle was an underwriter at ACE in Boston. She holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University. She is actively involved in the Make-A-Wish Foundation, as well as Zurich's Women's Innovation Network (WIN).
Jana Maddox joins Zurich’s Dallas team as a Business Development Leader
Jana Maddox, who has over 12 years of experience in commercial insurance, has joined Zurich as a Business Development Leader in the South Central Area, based in Dallas.
Jana joins Zurich from Travelers, where she was second vice president of select sales. From 2016 to this year, she focused on developing and implementing countrywide sales and distribution strategies for Travelers select accounts, concentrating on the small commercial sales organization. From 2013 until 2016, she engaged in sales and distribution management activities for 24 states, helping independent agents grow their books of business while they helped their clients.
She previously served as sales director at Travelers, sharing production responsibilities for Travelers select sales territories in the South and Midwest.
“Jana adds a fresh viewpoint in the Texas marketplace given that she previously worked with a different distribution footprint than Zurich’s,” said Andy Zoller, South Central Area Executive. “She also brings value to the team with her relationships in the Austin area, which is somewhat underpenetrated at the moment. We are very excited to have someone with her skill and experience.”
Her experience includes commercial underwriting in central Texas for Travelers and in the San Francisco Bay area for The Hartford.
“I am excited to represent Zurich in the Texas and Oklahoma marketplaces,” Jana said. “My passion is helping people be successful in whatever they are trying to accomplish. Relationships are key in achieving that goal of success, and I am eager to begin developing those strong relationships with our internal Zurich teams and our external broker partners.”
Jana holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Texas, with a specialty in military history.
Outside the office, Jana is an active volunteer, working with children, assisting women and men in career development activities, and serving in an organization that helps mothers who have experienced the loss of a child. She and her husband have a 6-year-old daughter.
“I truly believe in servant leadership in all areas of my life,” Jana said, “and I am thrilled to be a part of the Zurich community.”
Roger Levine named Midwest Region SVP for Large Casualty
Roger Levine has been selected as the new Midwest Region Senior Vice President for Large Casualty in North America Commercial Insurance. Leading underwriting teams in Chicago, Denver and Pittsburgh, Roger will be responsible for the production and profitable growth of the Large Casualty portfolio in the region.
Roger, who will remain based in Chicago, previously was an area account manager in Large Casualty in the Midwest. He joined Zurich in 2000 as a Large Casualty underwriter.
“Roger’s promotion to RVP reinforces his strong local market presence and ability to deliver for our customers and brokers, which is critical in this role,” said Brandon Fick, Head of Casualty for Zurich North America Commercial Insurance. “Roger’s over 30 years of relevant underwriting and management experience add to my national leadership team and Zurich’s purpose: to protect, inspire confidence and help customers reach their full potential.”
“I am honored to be in a position to carry on the long-term success and development of so many people who have worked in the Chicago Large Casualty Department over the past 20 years,” Roger said. “It’s a great thrill for all of us to be connected in that way.”
Roger started his career with Chubb, where he held various middle market property and casualty underwriting and management roles.
He has a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Iowa.