Chubb Promotes Claims Trio, Names Ringsted Chief Scientist

Chubb Limited has named Sean Ringsted chief scientist and executive vice president, Chubb Group, a newly created role giving him responsibility for the insurer's artificial intelligence, data and analytics strategy worldwide. The appointment anchors a wave of leadership moves across carriers, brokers and MGUs this month.

Ringsted isn't a newcomer. He has over three decades at Chubb and its predecessor, ACE Group, most recently as executive vice president, chief digital business officer, and the executive who led the company's AI efforts globally.

Who now runs Chubb's claims organization?

Chubb also made three leadership appointments within its global claims organization.

• Lisa Wilson becomes head of North America claims, overseeing all aspects of North America commercial and personal lines claims and services. She joined Chubb in 2023 and was deputy head of North America claims.
• Jamie Trish was named global claims operations officer, responsible for global claims operational infrastructure. Trish joined Chubb in 2024 as claims transformation officer before becoming global transformation officer.
• Norm Rafsol was appointed global claims technical director. He joined Chubb in 2007 as senior vice president, professional liability underwriting, and most recently led financial lines, cyber claims and claims segmentation, with oversight of Canada and Bermuda claims.

Which brokers and MGUs made hires?

Michael Crowley joined Marsh as senior enterprise risk advisor for digital infrastructure, a newly created role helping digital infrastructure clients manage risk and build resilience. Crowley spent 10 years as a risk manager at Meta, leading the company's insurance and risk programs, including an owner-controlled insurance program for its data centers. He previously served as data center construction sourcing manager at Facebook and Amazon Web Services.

WTW appointed Darrel Beaton director of underwriting within its insurance consulting and technology (ICT) business. Based in Austin, Texas, Beaton joins from Effectus Insurance, where he was chief underwriting officer, and brings over 30 years of experience in commercial underwriting, product development, portfolio management, program design and underwriting leadership.

Parametrix appointed Tresa Stephens head of U.S. underwriting, leading U.S. underwriting and supporting broader product strategy and development. Stephens has over 15 years of experience, most recently as head of cyber, tech and media – North America at Allianz Commercial, with earlier senior roles at Argo Group, Chubb and Hiscox.

Lockton, headquartered in Kansas City, appointed Vince Gaffigan to lead its U.S. casualty practice. With over 30 years of casualty experience, Gaffigan has held several leadership positions across Lockton's business. Based in St. Louis, he will partner with Jessica Cullen, whose role expands to executive vice president, U.S. casualty – excess and product solutions, focusing on product innovation, analytics, claims advisory and technical expertise.

Technical Risk Underwriters (TRU), the Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers MGU specializing in complex first-party construction risks, promoted Nick Hays to president earlier this year. Hays, who joined TRU in 2023, is a former Navy SEAL, Fortune 500 solutions architect and performance coach for NBA and NFL organizations. Aaron Reissner was promoted to executive vice president; he has been with the team since 2012 and specializes in construction risks.

What changed at Selective and OneShield?

Selective Insurance Group Inc., headquartered in Short Hills, New Jersey, made two moves. Vaibhav (Vaib) Kalia was appointed executive vice president and chief investment officer after serving as interim CIO since June. Kalia, who joined Selective in 2014 and most recently was SVP, senior portfolio manager and head of fixed income, chairs the management investment committee and oversees the investment portfolio plus investment matters for employee benefit plans.

Selective also hired Jacob E. "Jake" Rothfuss as executive vice president and president, standard lines. Rothfuss is CEO of Velocity Risk Underwriters, part of Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers, since 2023 — he joined that organization in 2018 as COO and became president in 2020. He is expected to assume the Selective role no later than April 2027, when his current contractual obligations end.

OneShield, headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts, appointed Terry Brown chief insurance officer, a newly created role shaping the company's AI-native capabilities and bringing them to market. Brown started in the independent agency system, spent 17 years at Cincinnati Equitable Insurance Company rising to vice president of information systems, moved to the software side in 2005 and was named president at the core systems vendor in 2016.

Who else moved?

ATRI Insurance Services LLC hired Kylor Bellistri as assistant vice president, financial institutions. Based in New York, Bellistri spent nearly 10 years with Chubb, most recently as a senior underwriter; the hire is part of ATRI's investment in expanding management and professional liability capabilities.

Ohio Mutual named Brenton Kratzer assistant vice president, internal audit, succeeding Kristy Kinley, who retires in December. Kratzer has over 15 years of internal and external audit experience, including property and casualty, spanning financial, regulatory, operational and technology audits.

Opterrix, a risk intelligence platform serving P&C insurance, promoted Rich Krupar to chief commercial officer from vice president of catastrophe and insurance solutions. His expanded role covers commercial strategy, growth and revenue initiatives.

Karen Spangler joined Alliant Insurance Services as vice president within its employee benefits group. The Chicago-based consultant will partner with Midwest employers on benefits strategies and previously was a principal with Mercer. Alliant is headquartered in Irvine, California.

SAGE Program Underwriters, headquartered in Sparks, Nevada, hired Ken Kaufmann as senior vice president to expand distribution, identify new program opportunities and serve as a field underwriter. Kaufmann has more than 10 years of insurance experience focused on workers' compensation across retail and wholesale platforms, most recently at Paragon Insurance.

What happened in the public sector?

The Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission named two deputy commissioners, Adam L. Katz and Jason A. Mullins, who will serve as administrative law judges under the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act and hold evidentiary hearings. Katz served in the Virginia Attorney General's Office since 2010 and will be based in Richmond; Mullins, previously a partner with PennStuart defending workers' compensation claims, will serve in Harrisonburg.

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara made five appointments to two statewide boards. Guinevere Doner and Jonathan Parfrey join the COIN Advisory Board, with Deborah La Franchi reappointed. Colbie McRae and Vinh Truong were reappointed to the Curriculum Board, which oversees pre-licensing and continuing education curriculum for agents and brokers.

Aspire General Insurance, headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga, promoted Isaac Adams from vice president of product to senior vice president of product, and Kelson Hughes from assistant vice president to vice president of product management. Adams previously worked as an agency owner and account executive.

The breadth of the moves — from a chief scientist mandate at Chubb to Rothfuss's delayed 2027 start at Selective — signals how insurers are wiring AI leadership and succession planning into their top ranks.