Zurich Construction elevates James Savage, Tony Zins

Zurich North America’s Head of Construction Kelly Kinzer has announced key moves on her commercial insurance underwriting team: James Savage will be the new Head of Construction Casualty, replacing Tobias Cushing as he takes on a new leadership role at Zurich. Tony Zins will ascend to Head of Middle Market Construction, succeeding Savage.

“Each of these leaders has demonstrated the technical acumen and creativity to help our customers navigate rapidly evolving risks and opportunities,” Kinzer said. “These internal promotions underscore the strength and depth of talent on our Construction team, as well as our commitment to the middle market space.”

Savage’s new role as Head of Construction Casualty expands on his previous dual roles as Head of Middle Market Construction and Regional Vice President of Construction Casualty for the South. Zins will succeed Savage (at right) in a similar way; Zins (lower right) will serve as Head of Middle Market Construction while continuing as a Regional VP of Construction Casualty for the Midwest.

Savage’s promotion was precipitated by Cushing’s move from Head of Construction Casualty to a newly created role: Head of Motor Liability Technical Underwriting for all of Zurich North America. Cushing reports to Zurich North America’s Chief Underwriting Officer Heather Fox in this new role.

“Toby brought focused attention and innovative approaches to addressing motor liability risks during his tenure as Head of Construction Casualty,” Fox said. “His move to our Technical Underwriting team enables all of Zurich North America’s businesses to benefit from his approach to this challenging area of risk."

• More about Savage: Joining Zurich in 2016, Savage has held various underwriting roles in the Great Lakes region and in the Middle Market segment. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio, and a Bachelor of Arts from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania. He is based in Akron, Ohio.
• More about Zins: In nearly 18 years at Zurich, Zins has held various underwriting roles, including senior and managerial roles. He has a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, and is based in Leawood, Kansas.  
• More about Cushing: Before joining Zurich in 2022, Cushing held various leadership roles at The Hartford and as an insurance coverage litigator and adviser for complex insurance transactions. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Houghton College in New York, a law degree from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, and a Master of Laws in insurance from the University of Connecticut School of Law in Hartford.

“I’m confident that James, Tony and Toby will continue to deliver innovative solutions and insights for our customers,” Kinzer said. “These moves highlight the culture of career growth at Zurich, which not only benefits our colleagues but also our customers.”