Five insurers and specialty firms have announced leadership changes this week, with three carrying specific analytical weight: QBE's inland marine build-out reaching a structural milestone 18 months after market entry, HDI Global executing dual CUO appointments under a named US growth strategy, and USAA recruiting a decorated Navy veteran to lead government relations at a moment when military community financial services regulation is increasingly active.
USAA has named Mara Motherway as senior vice president and head of government relations - a hire that brings specific regulatory positioning capability to an association whose membership is defined by military service. Motherway is a retired US Navy officer and longtime USAA member with more than 20 years of service including combat operations in the Middle East. She joins from Lockheed Martin's aeronautics division, where she led strategy and business development, having previously held senior roles at Booz Allen Hamilton, Peraton, Epirus and BAE Systems. She holds a bachelor's degree from the US Naval Academy, a master's in public administration from Harvard University and a master's in national resource strategy from the National Defense University, where she was a distinguished graduate.
Andrade described Motherway as bringing exceptional experience across military service, government affairs and business leadership, while Johnson noted her ability to translate complex policy issues into meaningful outcomes for members and the business. "USAA has been part of my family's journey for many years, both as a member and throughout my time and my husband's time in uniform," Motherway said. "I am honored to join an organization that has spent more than a century serving those who serve."
DeCotis Specialty Insurance has added Frank Moran Jr. (pictured, left) to its personal lines team as a production underwriter, focusing on submission flow, new business development and market presence across the North Shore, Western Massachusetts and Northern New England. Moran brings 15-plus years of experience including territory management for Liberty Mutual/Safeco across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Maine, and began his career in GEICO's emerging leaders program. Jocelyn Dewey, director of personal lines and chief underwriting officer at DeCotis, described his field engagement approach and agency partner relationships as the specific quality that sets him apart.
QBE entered the US inland marine market in January 2025 and has grown its dedicated team to more than 15 people in 18 months - a build-out rate that reflects sustained wholesale and retail market demand rather than a speculative capacity deployment. The unit covers all 50 states and sits within QBE's Ocean Marine and Energy division under the International Markets portfolio.
The latest hires add senior regional underwriting depth across four cities. Brian Hanuschak joins as vice president of underwriting in Boston, with more than 12 years of experience and an inland marine focus since 2017 via Loadsure and AIG. Dee Pershay joins as senior lead underwriter in Atlanta, bringing 30 years of experience including leadership roles at Munich Re and Everest Insurance. Michael Khadder joins as senior lead underwriter in Chicago with nearly 20 years in the industry, coming from Markel where he was director of underwriting and production for marine and property. Paul Galabi joins as senior lead underwriter in New York, Jordan Dillman as underwriter in Atlanta and Danielle Sussingham as lead underwriter in New York, alongside three underwriting assistants and two inland marine claims associates.
Sharon Primerano, US inland marine manager for QBE International Markets, said both wholesale and retail markets had responded well to the offering in 18 months and the team is expanding to match continued demand.
HDI Global has made two simultaneous CUO appointments in the US as part of its Xcelerate29 growth strategy - a named programme targeting expansion in the world's largest insurance market. Bevan Greibesland (pictured, center), who joined HDI in March 2025, has been named CUO for specialty lines, overseeing architects and engineers, equine and delegated authority, with a mandate to expand into credit and political risk, aviation, surety and mining. Bruce Griffin (pictured, right), who joined HDI in August 2025, has been named CUO for long tail lines, covering excess casualty, primary casualty, construction, environmental, life sciences, multinational business and cyber. Griffin brings more than 30 years of commercial casualty experience.
Dr. Mukadder Erdönmez, the HDI Global SE executive board member responsible for the US market, said both appointments support the company's ambition in the US and bring deep market knowledge and underwriting excellence to its specialty and casualty offerings.
GuideOne Insurance has appointed Erin Clayton Kuhl to its board of directors. Kuhl most recently served as CFO and chief of staff for Krause Group and previously held senior finance roles at Kum & Go and Athene USA, where she was vice president, controller and treasurer. She was named the 2024 Business Record Deloitte CFO of the Year. Ken Cadematori, GuideOne's president and CEO, said her expertise in finance, strategy and governance makes her a strong addition to the board.
