Chief Underwriting Officer

POSITION: Chief Underwriting Officer
COMPANY: National Specialty Insurance Company
LOCATION: Hybrid - Multiple locations available
POSITION OVERVIEW
Reporting to the President and CEO, the Chief Underwriting Officer is responsible for establishing and maintaining underwriting guidelines, effectuating and overseeing portfolio management decisions, issuing underwriters' letters of authority and working closely with the business units to evaluate, monitor and mitigate emerging risks. The CUO is ultimately responsible for safeguarding and maintaining long-term underwriting profitability and portfolio balance to protect the financial health of the Company. The CUO collaborates with others to develop and implement underwriting strategies that advance Company.
The CUO is responsible for Corporate Underwriting, Audit, Quality Assurance and Risk Engineering.
In addition to establishing underwriting policies and guidelines, the CUO and Corporate Underwriting representatives are tasked with overseeing referral processes for complex risks and collaborating with business units in conducting underwriting audits and providing training programs for underwriters at all levels. The CUO must be a hands-on leader who possesses deep technical acumen and underwriting knowledge spanning all of Company’s lines of business.
RESPONSIBILITIES
· Working with the Head of Field Underwriting and the heads of Company business units to review business strategies, portfolio performance and financial targets and ensure underwriting trends fall within acceptable corporate risk tolerances.
· Working with the business units to adapt and respond to dynamic market conditions while pursuing our established target book mix and growth objectives.
· Monitoring emerging industry legal and claim trends that may impact future profitability and advising the business units to take appropriate action.
· Working with Audit, Corporate Underwriting and the business units to foster ongoing compliance with underwriting guidelines and letters of authority and to ensure that all policies issued are covered by Company applicable reinsurance treaties.
· Working with casualty and property reinsurers and reinsurance brokers to strategically market and place appropriate reinsurance coverages.
· Assisting in recruiting, developing and retaining highly qualified underwriters to produce top-quartile results.
· Ensuring that the business units work with Actuarial to achieve or exceed technical pricing targets.
· Maintaining knowledge of regulatory factors that impact the business units and working with the Legal Department to ensure regulatory compliance.
· Working with Enterprise Risk Management to identify and address emerging risks.
· Preparing presentations to, and discussing Company underwriting practices and results with, reinsurers.
· Managing resources prudently and effectively.
· Collaborating with IT, Corporate Underwriting and Actuarial to deliver tools and resources to enhance underwriting efficiency.
· Working with Human Resources to create materials for underwriter training and underwriter skills enhancement.
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REQUIREMENTS
· 15+ years of progressively responsible underwriting experience, preferably including significant commercial excess and surplus casualty experience.
· Demonstrated experience managing and developing high-performance teams across multiple offices and business units.
· Extensive experience working with casualty and property reinsurers and reinsurance brokers to strategically market and place appropriate reinsurance coverages.
· Expert technical underwriting background with advanced knowledge of commercial general liability, excess liability, inland marine and bind property and liability insurance.
· Deep knowledge of casualty and property reinsurers and reinsurance brokers.
· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
· Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
· Ability to interact effectively with all levels of the organization and with business partners.
EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS
· Bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college/university.
· Postgraduate degree preferred.
· CPCU, CIC or other relevant insurance industry designation preferred.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Company offers competitive compensation and benefits, currently including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), flexible spending, short-term and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, vacation and other paid time off.
CONTACT
George Lonas, President
The Regent Group
glonas@theregentgroup.com
716.404.3337
About The Regent Group (TRG)
TRG is a national executive search firm with extensive experience in the insurance, risk management and healthcare industries. TRG provides full-life cycle solutions for executive-level positions, as well as on-demand, point-of-service options for mid-management and department level search assignments. Clients range from global Fortune 500 to early-stage companies, both public and private. Building on our deep knowledge and experience, we are a single source for a wide range of leadership and talent consulting services. For more information, visit www.theregentgroup.com

Work arrangement
Yes