Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies chief executive officer and president Adam Edelstein (pictured above) has been elected to the board of directors of NCCI Holdings for the 2026–2027 term, following a membership vote at the data organization's annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, on May 13, 2026.
The appointment places the head of one of Berkshire Hathaway's specialty insurance units inside the governance structure of the body that supplies workers' compensation data, rate recommendations, and research used by carriers and regulators across most US states.
"Workers' Compensation continues to be a flagship line for GUARD and the anchor behind our small business product suite," Edelstein said in a statement.
He said the company had spent four decades building expertise across both the voluntary and residual markets, centered on the value proposition offered to agents, brokers, and policyholders.
"I'm honored to contribute to NCCI's mission and collaborate with industry leaders on the data, insight, and governance that keep the system strong and responsive to market needs," Edelstein added.
His term will run through 2027, a period in which the NCCI board is expected to weigh medical cost trends, claim frequency patterns, and the integration of new data sources into ratemaking.
The vote coincided with the release of NCCI's 2026 State of the Line report at the same annual meeting, which showed workers' compensation posted a 91% calendar year combined ratio in 2025, marking the 12th consecutive year of underwriting gains.
The accident year combined ratio came in at 102%, with an estimated $14 billion redundant industry reserve position, according to NCCI. Lost-time claim frequency declined 2% over the year, while medical and indemnity severity each rose 4%.
"The data shows a system that remains healthy, but the trends in severity warrant attention," analysts have noted of recent NCCI findings, with cost pressures building beneath otherwise favorable headline results.
The figures form part of the data set the NCCI board oversees, and which member carriers such as GUARD rely on to calibrate pricing and reserving in both voluntary and residual markets.
GUARD framed Edelstein's appointment as part of its wider role in supporting the workers' compensation system, particularly in maintaining the credibility and relevance of the data and research used by carriers, regulators, and other stakeholders.
The insurer, a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group, writes workers' compensation alongside a suite of small business products distributed through independent agents and brokers across the US.
