QBE North America has announced the appointment of Matt Westhoff as president of its commercial insurance division.
Starting November 11, Westhoff will take charge of QBE North America’s commercial insurance portfolio, valued at over $1 billion and encompassing sectors such as workers’ compensation, property, commercial construction, and specialty casualty.
Westhoff joins QBE from Beazley, where he was head of North America commercial property. His extensive background also includes experience at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and AIG.
Julie Wood, chief executive of QBE North America, expressed enthusiasm about the appointment, stating, “Matt brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to the role and my management team.
“We are committed to the property and casualty segment, and Matt’s experience building profitable businesses from the ground up combined with his focus on talent, culture, and broker relationships will be invaluable as we look to scale and grow.”
Based in New York, Westhoff takes over from Mike Foley, who previously served as president of commercial insurance since March 2022 and has now moved to the role of North America chief underwriting officer.
Wood highlighted that one of Westhoff’s key initial responsibilities will be the establishment of a new excess and surplus property business, aimed at strengthening QBE’s specialty casualty offerings in North America.
