A wave of senior appointments is sweeping the US insurance market this week, with carriers, brokers, and specialty insurers adding experienced talent across cyber underwriting, stop loss, medical professional liability, employee benefits, and claims.
The moves span a broad cross-section of the industry, from global specialty insurers and publicly traded carriers to regional brokerages and life and health providers. The appointments offer a snapshot of where the US insurance industry is directing leadership capital as the second half of 2026 approaches.
HDI Global US has appointed Jill Salmon (pictured, left) as head of cyber underwriting.
Salmon joins from Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, where she served as head of professional liability with responsibility for the cyber and E&O portfolio. She has also held positions at Lexington, Catlin, and CNA across a career of more than 12 years in the specialty lines market.
Marco Hensel, chief underwriting officer and senior vice president at HDI Global, said Salmon's "deep expertise in the cyber space, proven leadership, and strong market presence will further enhance our capabilities as we continue to focus on underwriting excellence and disciplined growth in the US market."
Salmon said she was "excited to lead the continued development of the cyber business," adding that the market "continues to evolve rapidly, creating significant opportunity for growth and innovation."
Assurity has appointed Eugene Zollinger (pictured, center) as regional vice president for South Texas and Louisiana.
Zollinger joins from Crump Life Insurance Services and brings worksite and individual voluntary insurance experience across a career that began in 2017.
"Assurity is an amazing organization. From the people and culture to their products, any type of experience I've had was fantastic. Because I started in insurance opening up an independent agency from scratch, I'm passionate about the independent space. Assurity offers tremendous support and opportunities for independent brokers," he said.
Hiscox USA has named Lori Bailey (pictured, right) as head of channel, traded and Corix, reporting to CEO Mary Boyd.
Bailey joins from Axis, where she served as head of global cyber and technology. She previously held the role of chief insurance officer at Corvus Insurance and brings nearly 30 years of industry experience spanning professional liability, specialty lines, and cyber risk.
"Lori brings deep industry knowledge to the role and proven success leading key risk areas including professional liability, cyber, and specialty lines," said Boyd. "Lori will be a strategic and trusted partner to our brokers and an inspiring leader for our teams, helping drive Corix’s continued growth while building on the strong momentum already underway at Hiscox.”
Crum & Forster's Accident & Health Division has appointed Brett Feldman as vice president of C&F Stop Loss Underwriting within its Medical Business Unit.
Feldman joins from Captive Resources, Inc., where he served as head of MSL underwriting and built out the company's Health Solutions Underwriting function. Earlier career stops include Berkley, Reunion Health Services, and Liberty Mutual. In 2025 he was named to Captive International's Forty Under 40 list.
The hire arrives as stop loss demand intensifies. Total health benefit costs per employee are expected to rise 6.5% on average in 2026, the highest increase since 2010, even after planned cost-reduction measures, with employers estimating costs would rise nearly 9% without any action. Claims in excess of $1 million are now reported by 49% of plan sponsors surveyed, up from 23% in 2024, while stop loss premium increases for 2025 ran between 8.8% and 10%.
RLI Corp. has promoted Kevin Brownell to vice president of claim, assuming executive leadership of the company's casualty claim operations.
Brownell joined RLI in 2018 and was promoted to assistant vice president in 2023. He brings more than 25 years of insurance claims and legal experience.
“Kevin is a respected leader with deep claims expertise, sound judgment and a strong commitment to service excellence,” said RLI Corp. COO Jen Klobnak. “His contributions have helped strengthen our Casualty claim operations, enhancing technical excellence and customer service. We are confident he will continue to build on that success in his new role.”
Coverys, a leading provider of medical professional liability insurance, has elected Michael Boguski to its board of directors.
Boguski retired in December 2023 as president of the Specialty P&C Division at ProAssurance and brings nearly 40 years of industry experience, including CEO of Eastern Insurance Holdings and oversight of approximately $800 million in insurance transactions across public offerings, private equity financings, and M&A activity.
“Michael brings a wealth of insurance industry leadership experience and a distinguished track record in strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, capital management, and public company governance," said Coverys president and CEO Joseph Murphy. "With more than 25 years of board experience and deep expertise across the commercial casualty market, he will provide valuable insight as Coverys continues to execute its long-term strategy and support the healthcare community.”
Sunstar Insurance Group has appointed Brad Hearst as executive vice president of national growth and sales strategy.
Hearst will lead producer development, sales strategy, and practice group alignment across the firm's nine-state operation, which employs more than 900 people and places over $2 billion in premiums annually.
Hearst's appointment comes as Sunstar continues to expand its geographic footprint and deepen its capabilities across the Southeast and Midwest. The firm operates across nine states, employs more than 900 people and places over $2 billion in premiums annually.
Sunstar is backed by Reverence Capital Partners, which acquired a majority stake in 2024.
Fortegra Group has named Anthony Katz as senior vice president of reserving.
Katz is a credentialed actuary holding FCAS, FSA, and MAAA designations with more than 30 years of experience across reserving, pricing, and actuarial transformation at firms including ToaRe, Everest Re, Arch Insurance, Ernst & Young, and ACE.
“Anthony brings more than 30 years of actuarial expertise and a genuine commitment to building the capabilities our distribution partners depend on,” said CEO Rick Kahlbaugh. “His background across reserving, actuarial transformation, and international markets will be instrumental as we continue to support our distribution partners.”
Alliant Insurance Services has hired Brandon Ward as senior vice president within its Employee Benefits Group.
Ward brings experience advising technology companies, venture-backed businesses, and growth-stage organizations on human capital management, total rewards consulting, and workforce strategy through periods of rapid growth and M&A.
Prior to joining Alliant, Ward was a business consultant with an employee benefits consulting firm.
