Several insurance and financial services organizations have announced notable leadership changes this week, covering areas including brokerage, specialty underwriting, claims, reinsurance, healthcare risk management and corporate governance.
These appointments and transitions could have implications for brokers, agents, risk managers and other insurance professionals as companies expand into new markets, strengthen specialized capabilities and prepare for leadership succession.
Corgi appoints Erin Gambrel to lead financial services growth
Corgi has appointed Erin Gambrel as vice president of financial services, where she will focus on expanding retail investor growth and strengthening brand awareness for the company’s exchange-traded fund (ETF) lineup.
The appointment is focused on Corgi’s ETF and retail investment platform rather than its insurance underwriting operations. As a result, the move does not directly affect brokers placing coverage through Corgi’s admitted or risk retention group offerings.
Pan-American Life adds Latin America expert John Price to its board
Pan-American Life Insurance Group has appointed John Price to its board of directors, effective November 2026. He will also serve on the company’s Finance and Audit Committees.
Price is the founder of Americas Market Intelligence, a consulting firm specializing in Latin America and the Caribbean that has completed more than 5,000 client engagements. He has also founded Payments and Commerce Market Intelligence and the Horizontes executive forum.
For brokers and advisors working with Pan-American Life across Latin America and the Caribbean, Price’s appointment provides additional insight into the company’s strategic focus on the region. His experience in Latin American and Caribbean markets could be particularly relevant as brokers evaluate the insurer’s long-term regional strategy.
Third Wave Insurance appoints Paul Vredenburg as CEO
Third Wave Insurance has named Paul Vredenburg as chief executive officer. Founder Brian Bair will transition into the role of president while continuing to remain actively involved in the company’s insurance operations.
Vredenburg brings more than 14 years of experience with AssuredPartners, most recently serving as president and chief operating officer. Before that, he was executive vice president and chief acquisition officer, where he played a role in the company’s mergers and acquisitions strategy. His earlier career also included positions with Brown & Brown and MarshBerry.
For agency owners in the Southeast and Gulf Coast considering a potential sale, Vredenburg’s appointment could signal that Third Wave Insurance plans to maintain its acquisition strategy. His previous experience leading acquisition activities at AssuredPartners may also support a more structured approach to future transactions.
Retail brokers working with Palmer & Cay-affiliated agencies may also see continued expansion of services as additional acquired firms become integrated into the organization.
Relm Insurance names Mike Morales as global head of claims
Relm Insurance has appointed Mike Morales as head of claims, giving him responsibility for the company’s claims operations across both insurance and reinsurance.
Morales has more than 25 years of experience across claims, underwriting and brokerage. His previous senior-level experience includes roles with AIG, CNA, Zurich and Everest Specialty Underwriters. Most recently, he led Specialty Wholesale Insurance Solutions, a subsidiary of HUB International.
Morales has emphasized the importance of providing brokers and insureds with a claims partner capable of having practical discussions around complex claims.
That approach could be particularly relevant to Relm’s emerging-industry business, where claims involving newer and less-established risk categories may not always have extensive precedent. Experience across multiple areas of the insurance industry could help support more informed discussions between brokers, insureds and claims professionals.
AXA XL creates dedicated private equity client relations role
AXA XL has appointed Rana Gillmon as head of private equity client relations for the Americas, marking the creation of a newly dedicated role.
Gillmon joined AXA XL in 2022 after working at Chubb, where she managed key client relationships within the North America Major Accounts Division. Earlier in her career, she spent 16 years at Marsh, including serving as a portfolio manager within its Private Equity Mergers & Acquisitions Group. She also led incoming multinational business from Dubai across the Gulf Cooperation Council region.
The creation of a dedicated private equity relationship position suggests AXA XL sees significant opportunity in risks associated with private equity-sponsored portfolio companies.
For brokers handling management liability, transactional risk or portfolio company insurance for private equity clients, Gillmon provides a senior contact specifically focused on these relationships. The role could be particularly relevant for complex placements involving private equity sponsors and their portfolio businesses.
AmericanAg’s Pat Larsen announces retirement
AmericanAg has announced that Pat Larsen, senior vice president of client retro and broker assumed pool management, will retire on January 31, 2027.
Larsen has spent 36 years working in reinsurance, including 18 years with AmericanAg. Andrew Boris, the company’s executive vice president and CEO, highlighted Larsen’s reinsurance knowledge and relationship-building contributions during his tenure.
AmericanAg has not yet announced who will succeed Larsen or how his responsibilities will be transferred.
Reinsurance brokers and cedents working with AmericanAg’s retrocession and broker assumed pool programs should therefore monitor the company’s transition plans. Maintaining continuity across established relationships will be important as the organization manages the leadership change.
The MJ Companies appoints Josh Britton to national healthcare practice
The MJ Companies has appointed Josh Britton as director of its National Healthcare Practice in Nashville.
Britton brings more than a decade of experience advising hospitals, health systems and physician groups on property and casualty risk management as well as alternative risk financing.
The appointment strengthens The MJ Companies’ dedicated healthcare capabilities and could be relevant to brokers and risk managers serving healthcare organizations.
The firm’s healthcare risk financing expertise, together with its APERTURE analytics platform, may provide an additional resource for complex hospital and health system placements where alternative risk program structures are being considered.
Global Aerospace announces CUO retirement and succession plan
Global Aerospace has announced that Jeffrey Bruno, president and group chief underwriting officer, will retire at the end of 2026 after nearly four decades with the company.
Eric Donofrio, who joined Global Aerospace as chief underwriting officer in March 2025, will become president effective January 1, 2027, while continuing in his CUO role.
For aviation brokers who have developed longstanding relationships around Bruno’s underwriting approach, the succession plan provides a degree of continuity. Donofrio has already served as CUO for more than a year, meaning he is moving into an expanded leadership role rather than joining the organization as an outsider.
This could help reduce the likelihood of an abrupt change in underwriting direction as Global Aerospace moves into its next leadership phase.
Burns & Wilcox expands regional leadership on the West Coast
Burns & Wilcox has promoted Tom Carvalho to regional vice president, where he will oversee operations in Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Sacramento and Fresno. He will report to Rich Gobler.
Carvalho joined Burns & Wilcox in 2011 and has served as managing director of San Francisco since 2024.
The company has also appointed Winston Rendall and Sandra Shambaugh as associate managing directors. Rendall previously served as vice president of sales and distribution at Hull & Company, while Shambaugh was previously vice president of insurance at AAA Hoosier Motor Club.
The expanded leadership structure adds three new or promoted leaders across an important West Coast growth region.
For retail brokers working with Burns & Wilcox in the Pacific Northwest and Northern California, the appointments indicate continued investment in regional relationship management. The expanded leadership team could also provide brokers with additional points of contact as the company pursues growth in markets including Portland and Seattle.
