The Hartford named its first-ever chief strategy and ventures officer, with a goal of driving new growth through innovation. XL Catlin appointed an executive to serve as global head of underwriting for its fledgling global retail Accident & Health insurance arm. QBE North America gains a former Allied World Assurance executive as its new senior vice president, underwriting leader for Healthcare. An executive at Olympus Insurance Company is moving up the ranks.

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John Wilcox is The Hartford’s first-ever chief strategy and ventures officer.

He’ll be tasked in this newly-created position with leading efforts to spot and capitalize on new opportunities to drive growth through innovation and improve operating capabilities.

Wilcox, who will report directly to Chairman and CEO Christopher Swift, has close to three decades of industry experience. He also worked an earlier, four-year stint at The Hartford, holding senior leadership positions in corporate strategy and Personal Lines.

Most recently – since 2012, Wilcox was president and chief operating officer at Risk Strategies Company, a national insurance brokerage firm. Before joining The Hartford in 2008, Wilcox was a partner with McKinsey & Co.

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A Liberty Mutual veteran has joined XL Catlin’s global retail Accident & Health insurance arm as its global head of underwriting.

Ronnell Agatep will be based in New York. His job is a newly-created position and he’ll be tasked with driving product development and underwriting guidelines for XL Catlin’s new retail Accident & Health business unit.

Agatep will report to Patrick Corbett, XL Catlin’s global chief underwriting officer for retail Accident & Health.

Previously, Agatep was at Liberty Mutual, where he was senior vice president of global Accident & Health. Through his 25-year career, he has held senior A&H management and underwriting positions in the U.S. U.K., South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

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A former Allied World Assurance executive will be QBE North America’s new senior vice president, underwriting leader for Healthcare.

Cynthia Oard will be charged with setting underwriting strategy across all major Healthcare segments including Hospitals, Physicians, Aging & Assisted Living, Allied Health and Managed Care. She will also work with QBE’s regional executive to develop the Healthcare franchise nationally and over all distribution challenges.

Oard, a 25-year insurance industry veteran, was most recently senior vice president and Healthcare Practice lead at Allied World. She also has prior experience with Darwin Professional Underwriters, Chubb and Executive Risk.

Oard will be based in Chicago and report to Specialty Insurance President Jeffrey Grange.

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An executive at Olympus Insurance Company, a Florida homeowners insurer, is moving up the ranks.

Bradley Burton has been promoted to executive vice president of Underwriting and Business Development. In his new role, Burton will lead the company’s underwriting, policy service and product development.

As well, Burton will oversee successful implementation and future modification to the company’s new underwriting and policy management system. He’ll also oversee business development efforts.

Burton was previously vice president of Underwriting, and joined Olympus 9 years ago. He has worked previously at companies including Travelers Insurance Company, Southern Heritage Insurance Company, Florida Family Insurance Company and Tower Hill Insurance Group.

Sources: The Hartford, XL Catlin, QBE North America, Olympus Insurance Company