New Leadership at TDC, USAA, Merchants
Several major insurance players have new marketing and underwriting leaders, creating fresh opportunities for ABM outreach. TDC Specialty Underwriters promoted Steven Spina to Chief Underwriting Officer. The move coincides with new CMO appointments at USAA, Merchants Insurance, and Baldwin Group.
Steven Spina's promotion to Chief Underwriting Officer at TDC Specialty Underwriters leverages his more than 40 years of deep experience in healthcare professional liability underwriting. In his elevated role, he will guide the strategic underwriting direction for both TDC Specialty Underwriters and Healthcare Risk Advisors (HRA), focusing on underwriting performance and portfolio profitability. This move comes shortly after Robert A. Kauffman was named President of TDC Specialty Underwriters, signaling a fortified leadership team focused on the evolving healthcare industry's E&S lines. USAA's new Chief Marketing Officer, Chris Curtin, brings a wealth of experience from brands like Sam's Club, Bank of America, Visa, and The Walt Disney Company. His focus will be on delivering value-driven marketing and trust-based communications to the 14 million members of the U.S. military, veterans, and their families served by USAA. Curtin's appointment is part of USAA's strategy to enhance service excellence and operational strength through clear and purposeful storytelling in its marketing. He will also oversee USAA's significant sponsorship portfolio, which includes agreements with the NFL and the Army-Navy football game. At Merchants Insurance Group, the recent executive move strengthens the claims division with the appointment of Pete Walkup as Vice President, Head of Claims. Walkup, with over 28 years of experience, will focus on operational performance, process modernization, and delivering value to policyholders. This appointment comes as Merchants maintains a strong financial footing, with AM Best reaffirming its A- (Excellent) rating and revising its outlook to positive, citing the group's very strong balance sheet and solid earnings in recent years. The Baldwin Group is actively pursuing an aggressive growth strategy with the goal of becoming a Top 10 U.S. broker. This strategy is fueled by a renewed focus on mergers and acquisitions, following a period of deleveraging after several significant purchases. The company recently announced a planned leadership transition in its Underwriting, Capacity, & Technology Solutions (UCTS) operating group, with Amy Carlisle set to become CEO on January 1, 2027, a move aimed at ensuring long-term strength and performance. This is part of a broader strategy that includes a recent merger with CAC Group to expand its specialty capabilities.
