Position Summary
We are seeking to hire a European Assistant Vice President - Casualty. This role is responsible for leading and strategic business planning of CNA Company platform Casualty business.
The role has the highest level of Casualty UW authority with full P&L responsibility across CNAH. They will also be responsible for UW governance and appetite accountability, driving increased profitability, expertise and UW excellence.
Building business plans to accelerate and execute on profitable growth, the development of risk managed and captive capabilities.
This is a leadership role and potential successor to Head of Commercial and therefore varied UW and business skills and experience are required.
Membership and participant of global casualty product board.
Key Responsibilities
- Leading a team across primary large Casualty in the UK and Continental Europe, Excess Casualty and Construction. Will work closely with Middle Market AVP to set the UK and Continental Europe AVP on vision and strategies, driving accountability through local management structure
- Full responsibility for P&L performance of European Casualty in collaboration with US Casualty Matrix
- Support of Commercial VP with strategic business priorities
- Driving and reporting financial metrics into CEO, UW committees and occasional board presentations
- Strategic execution of broker deals (both for Commercial and Casualty), supporting VP with tracking and execution
- Participates and leads European projects including business transformation
- Develops training for UWR’s to deliver on appetite, guidelines and strategies
- Leads projects, research / studies, reviews of UW guidelines for consistency for European Casualty
- Builds a high performing team and culture with an emphasis on talent management and succession planning in accordance with corporate strategic direction. Builds technical and operational expertise across the International Segment by effectively managing both short and long term priorities to achieve superior outcomes.
- Ensures the underwriting processes and procedures are aligned with CNAF and CNA International operating model.
- Drives operational excellence and leverages technology to drive efficiency and superior underwriting outcomes
- Manages costs effectively against agreed budget within function.
- Analyses and manages human capital to drive increased efficiency and productivity; acts as a liaison to underwriting leadership on critical business issues and drives corporate priorities within assigned areas of responsibility.
- Leads and executes on Casualty European RI program
- Drives high performance culture through leading by example and setting the tone for the organisation.
- Develops market leading products and services to drive profitable growth and position CNA as a top quartile performer.
- Provides expert level technical oversight to ensure business is written in accordance with appetites, authorities and will achieve target loss and expense ratios.
- Collaborates with claims, risk control and actuarial to ensure knowledge sharing on latest trends, and changes in underwriting strategy. Regularly interacts with internal and external business partners and stakeholders within CNA.
- Builds and develops strong relationships with distribution partners – brokers, MGAs/MGUs, cover holders, insurance companies, etc. Positions CNA as top quartile performer.
- Builds strong working relationships with vendors to ensure they are effectively driving the CNA brand and delivering upon the CNA value proposition.
- Develops and executes a strategy to drive profitable growth and enhance CNA’s market position.
- Achieve gross written premium and net written premium targets.
- Achieves loss ratio targets through effective portfolio management.
- Achieves expense ratio targets by proactively managing expenses.
- Responsible for building and maintaining a strong governance framework. Ensures appropriate risk management decisions are made with reference to the business. This includes:
- Staying current with territorial issues, regulations, industry activities and trends in relevant markets.
- The development and harmonisation of policies and procedures across the International Segment.
- Delegates and administers authority and ensures staff operate within delegated authority.
- Comply with all legal and regulatory requirements relevant to the role and ensure that appropriate measures are in place to deliver the activities of the function in compliance with local law and regulation. Holds regulatory accountability for underwriting as a Senior Manager.
- Represents CNA in industry trade groups.
Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
- Proven track record of delivery in the market and Casualty product class
- Prior experience of leading and managing diverse teams
- High level of technical knowledge around relevant products and markets
- Highly effective and proven track record of operating within a matrix and influencing senior stakeholders
- Existing network of market relationships
- Mastery of insurance principles (legal, operations, practices and procedures) and broad understanding of the critical issues in other related areas in particular underwriting risk and financial management principles
- Strategic leadership and people management
- Advanced communication skills which are critical to building consensus across area of influence (external and/or internal relationships), team, and/or matrix environment.
- Ability to work and influence in an international environment
- An additional language would be an advantage
- Ability to drive results by identifying and resolving significant problems within scope of responsibility.
- Track record of sound judgement and business acumen
- Ackowledged technical and market expert
- Acts as a role model, promoting the CNA brand and culture
Education & Experience
- Master's degree or equivalent experience with professional certifications preferred.
- Typically a minimum of ten years of related work experience with demonstrated proficiency in required skills and abilities and seven years of management experience.
The Company
CNA Hardy is a leading specialist commercial insurance provider for clients within the Lloyd’s and company markets. We offer a highly specialised and comprehensive portfolio of innovative and market leading products. Coverage is available to businesses of all sizes for domestic, international and global exposures.
