Recent leadership changes across the insurance industry highlight appointments and promotions in specialty underwriting, surety, client distribution, artificial intelligence operations, and US healthcare insurance.
HDI Global US Establishes Two Chief Underwriting Officer Positions
HDI Global US has appointed Maria Duhart as chief underwriting officer, US Specialty, and promoted Dan Feige to chief underwriting officer, US Short-tail Lines. Both executives will report to CEO Shadi Albert and join the company’s US executive leadership team.
Duhart joins HDI Global US from AXA XL, where she most recently led the US East Zone client and distribution team. Previously, she served as chief underwriting officer for AXA XL’s Americas specialty niche business. Her career also includes senior positions at Nationwide and Chubb.
In her new position, Duhart will oversee underwriting across several specialty areas, including architects and engineers, credit and political risk, equine, and delegated authority. She will also lead the company’s surety business, which is currently being developed.
Feige’s promotion follows his appointment as head of engineering, construction and inland marine at HDI Global US in June 2026. His expanded responsibilities include formal chief underwriting officer oversight of property, energy, and ocean marine. These business lines are important to strengthening the company’s position with brokers handling larger commercial and specialty risks.
Before joining HDI Global US, Feige served as chief underwriting officer, marine, major accounts, at Liberty Mutual.
These appointments represent the latest additions to HDI Global US’s leadership team since Shadi Albert became CEO in July 2026. The changes form part of the company’s four-year Xcelerate29 growth strategy.
AXA XL Announces Distribution and Underwriting Leadership Changes
AXA XL has made two leadership changes, appointing Tim Brewer as head of commercial bonds, Americas, and expanding Rana Gillmon’s responsibilities to include client and distribution leadership across the US East Zone.
Brewer will report to Sylvain Bouteillé, chief underwriting officer, specialty, Americas. He brings more than 20 years of experience in commercial surety, most recently serving as national field director, commercial surety, at Skyward Specialty Insurance. He also holds the Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding (AFSB) designation.
Gillmon joined AXA XL in 2022 from Chubb’s North America major accounts division. Before that, she spent 16 years at Marsh, where her experience included working in the private equity mergers and acquisitions group and leading incoming multinational business across the Gulf Cooperation Council region.
Under her expanded responsibilities, Gillmon will retain oversight of private equity client relationships across the Americas while taking on client and distribution activities throughout the US East Zone. This brings broader regional distribution responsibilities together with her existing private equity client leadership role.
Alliant Underwriting Solutions Appoints Shaun Shenouda as COO and AI Transformation Officer
Alliant Underwriting Solutions (AUS), the program administrator division of Alliant Insurance Services, has appointed Shaun Shenouda as divisional chief operating officer and AI transformation officer.
In this combined position, Shenouda will lead the division’s artificial intelligence and automation initiatives, including resource allocation and prioritization. He will also oversee operational efficiency and the execution of enterprise-wide initiatives across AUS.
Alongside his new responsibilities, Shenouda will continue as president of SES Risk Solutions, an AUS company that provides property and casualty insurance coverage for portfolios of single-family residential rental properties.
Combining the COO and AI transformation officer positions reflects Alliant’s focus on integrating artificial intelligence into its operational activities. The structure indicates that AI-related improvements, particularly in submission processing, are expected to be driven through operational leadership rather than a separate technology function.
MNK International Appoints Iain Jeens to Lead Its US Healthcare Division
MNK International, a London-based specialist Lloyd’s broker and part of MNK Group, has appointed Iain Jeens as director and head of US healthcare. He will lead the newly established US healthcare division within the company’s North American operation.
Jeens brings more than 20 years of experience in the London insurance market, with a particular focus on North American healthcare risks. His previous senior positions include roles at Amwins Global Risks and Oxford Insurance, where he worked across areas such as hospitals, long-term care, and miscellaneous health risks.
Although based in London, Jeens will concentrate on placing US healthcare risks with Lloyd’s and Bermuda markets.
The new division provides US healthcare brokers with a dedicated specialist route to London and Bermuda insurance capacity. Its focus includes challenging risk categories such as hospitals, social services, and long-term care.
Altea Appoints Justin Rodrick to Support US Healthcare Expansion
Altea, a healthcare-focused insurance business backed by MISSION UK and established in 2023, has appointed Justin Rodrick as vice president to lead its expansion into the US market.
The company plans to enter the US through MISSION’s existing US platform. Its underwriting operations will use Accelerant’s Risk Exchange platform, initially targeting small and mid-market miscellaneous medical facilities and allied healthcare providers. Formal underwriting operations are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Rodrick brings previous experience in underwriting and program leadership from AIG, Liberty Mutual/Ironshore, and Coverys. During his time at Coverys, he contributed to the development of its delegated authority programs unit.
Altea plans to work alongside existing capacity providers or assume responsibility for entire programs. This approach is expected to provide managing general agents (MGAs) operating in allied healthcare and medical facilities with another insurance capacity option alongside established market providers.
