Everest Strengthens Global Wholesale & Specialty Leadership With Two Key Appointments
Everest Group, Ltd. (NYSE: EG), a global underwriting leader providing world-class reinsurance and specialty insurance solutions, announced two key leadership appointments within Everest Global Wholesale & Specialty (GWS), effective October 1.
Stephen Buonpane has been appointed Global Head of Construction, GWS, reporting to Jason Keen, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Everest Global Wholesale & Specialty. In this newly created role, he will lead Everest’s global construction business, driving underwriting strategy, market alignment and broker relationships across key markets.
Additionally, Danielle Stewart has been promoted to President of Everest Evolution™ (Evolution) reporting to Lisa Davis, Head of North America, Wholesale & Specialty. Ms. Stewart currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of Everest Evolution™ and has played a central role in the development of the platform since its launch in 2024. She will now lead Evolution’s continued development across the U.S. wholesale market, overseeing underwriting, portfolio management, operations and distribution.
“Construction is a significant specialty opportunity for GWS, where Everest’s technical expertise, disciplined underwriting and strong broker collaboration brings tremendous value,” said Jason Keen. “Stephen’s deep construction and casualty experience make him the ideal leader to drive our global construction business, reinforcing our commitment to building specialist leadership around the markets where we see meaningful opportunity.”
“Danielle has been instrumental in building Evolution into a differentiated wholesale platform,” Mr. Keen added. “Her leadership, operational expertise and deep understanding of the market position her well to accelerate the business’s next phase of growth.”
Mr. Buonpane was appointed President of Everest Evolution™ in 2024. He previously served as Head of Everest’s Casualty Lines and Industry Practices business. Prior to Everest, he held senior construction and casualty roles, including Executive Vice President, Construction Industry Practice Leader at Chubb.
Ms. Stewart joined Everest in 2022 and was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Everest Evolution™ in 2024. She previously served as National Head of Wholesale Distribution for Everest Insurance® and held leadership roles at Liberty Mutual.
Everest Appoints Lisa Davis to Lead North America Wholesale & Specialty Business
Everest Group, Ltd., a global underwriting leader providing world-class reinsurance and specialty insurance solutions, announced the appointment of Lisa Davis as Head of North America, Wholesale & Specialty.
Ms. Davis will lead Everest’s North America Wholesale & Specialty business, overseeing underwriting strategy, distribution, and portfolio management across the region. She will report to Jason Keen, EVP and CEO of Global Wholesale & Specialty, and serve as a key member of his leadership team.
“Along with her extensive experience, Lisa brings a combination of underwriting discipline, operational leadership, and strong relationships that are critical in this environment,” said Jason Keen. “Her ability to build profitable specialty businesses, lead high-performing teams, and deepen broker relationships will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our North America platform, deliver disciplined, profitable growth, and execute our long-term strategy.”
Ms. Davis brings more than 35 years of experience building and scaling specialty insurance businesses across wholesale markets, with deep expertise in underwriting leadership, portfolio management, and distribution strategy. Most recently, she led the build-out and expansion of Canopius’ U.S. business, delivering sustained profitable growth while significantly scaling the platform. Prior to that, she served as President and Chief Operating Officer for North America at Sompo America and held leadership roles at Zurich North America and St. Paul Companies.
Everest Announces Agreement to Sell Canadian Retail Insurance Operations to The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company
Everest Group, Ltd. (“Everest” or “the Company”) (NYSE: EG), a global specialty reinsurance and insurance leader, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Canadian Retail Insurance operations, Everest Insurance Company of Canada (“Everest Canada”), to The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company (“Wawanesa”).
“This transaction represents a strong outcome for both organizations, our shareholders and our colleagues,” said Jim Williamson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Everest. “The Canadian Retail team has built a high-quality, disciplined portfolio. This agreement enables us to realize compelling value and to transition our colleagues to a growth-oriented organization committed to expanding its commercial retail presence in the Canadian market.”
This transaction marks another decisive step in Everest’s strategic repositioning and advances the Company’s previously announced plan to exit its Commercial Retail Insurance operations, following the 2025 sale of its global Retail Commercial Insurance renewal rights to AIG. Everest Canada is the Company’s largest remaining retail platform, and with this transaction, Everest is further sharpening its focus on its core Reinsurance and Global Wholesale and Specialty Insurance businesses.
Williamson added, “Consistent execution against our stated strategy remains a priority. This agreement further aligns our portfolio with our core underwriting strengths and supports our objective of generating sustainable, risk-adjusted returns over time.”
“Everest has built a respected commercial business in Canada, powered by strong talent, deep specialty lines expertise, and a disciplined, entrepreneurial underwriting culture,” said Evan Johnston, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wawanesa. “We look forward to welcoming the Everest Canada team and investing in their proven model to further expand our ability to serve more Canadian businesses across an even broader range of industries.”
The transaction is anticipated to close in the second half of 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions. Advisors to the transaction include Ardea Partners LP as exclusive financial advisor and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and Stikeman Elliott LLP as legal advisors to Everest. TD Securities acted as exclusive financial advisor and Torys LLP acted as legal advisor to Wawanesa.
Everest Names Kelly Abeles as Head of Affinity, Accident & Health at Everest Insurance®
Everest Group, Ltd. (NYSE: EG), a global underwriting leader providing world-class reinsurance and specialty insurance solutions, announced Kelly Abeles has been named Head of Affinity, Accident & Health (A&H), effective immediately. She will report to Shawn Austin, Head of A&H, North America.
Bringing more than 30 years of insurance industry experience, Ms. Abeles will lead the development and execution of Everest’s Affinity strategy, enhancing the Company’s A&H offerings across diverse distribution channels, including associations, membership groups, digital platforms, and other strategic partners.
“Kelly’s deep expertise in affinity markets and proven track record of driving strategic growth initiatives make her an outstanding addition to Everest,” said Shawn Austin, Head of A&H, North America. “Her leadership will be instrumental as we strengthen our A&H platform, enter new markets, and deliver innovative, customer-centric solutions to our partners.”
Ms. Abeles’ work has spanned public, private, and non-profit sectors. She was most recently Vice President of Association Strategy, Underwriting, and Distribution at Prudential where she led its successful strategic growth plan. Ms. Abeles was previously Vice President, Affinity Practice Lead at American International Group (AIG) and has held leadership roles at subsidiaries of the American Bar Association and American Dental Association.
Everest Appoints Christopher Kujawa as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Everest Group, Ltd., a global underwriting leader providing world-class reinsurance and specialty insurance solutions, announced that Christopher Kujawa has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, effective January 20, 2026. Mr. Kujawa will report to Jim Williamson, President and CEO and will serve on Everest’s Executive Leadership Team.
He succeeds Gail Van Beveren, Interim Chief Human Resources Officer, who will remain with the Company for a brief transition to ensure continuity.
Mr. Kujawa brings more than 25 years of global human resources leadership and transformation experience at publicly traded and private organizations across financial services and technology-enabled business services. Most recently, he served as Chief Human Resources Officer of Conduent Incorporated, a publicly traded global technology and services company, where he partnered closely with the CEO and Board during a period of significant organizational change.
“Chris is an exceptional addition to our senior leadership team, with a proven record of elevating leadership, talent, and organizational performance in complex organizations,” said Jim Williamson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Everest. “He brings a collaborative and inclusive leadership style and a clear ability to strengthen culture in direct support of disciplined execution, which will be instrumental as Everest enters its next chapter focused on sustained profitability and long-term value creation.”
At Conduent, Mr. Kujawa led the company’s global HR function and played a key role in redesigning the HR operating model, modernizing systems and analytics, and supporting executive leadership, governance, and workforce strategy. Prior, he held senior Human Resources leadership roles at American Express and Ally Financial, where he led organizational effectiveness internationally and supported large-scale corporate restructuring.
Mr. Kujawa holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Relations from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from South Dakota State University.
Everest Appoints Mark Shaw as Chief Commercial Officer of its International Insurance Operation
Everest announced on 10th of July the appointment of Mark Shaw as Chief Commercial Officer for its International Insurance Operation, effective immediately. Mr. Shaw will report to Adam Clifford and Jason Keen, Co-Leads of Everest Insurance International®, and will continue to serve on the Global Broking team under the leadership of Anthony Izzo, Senior Vice President, Chief Global Broking Officer, and Head of Global Facultative and Hybrid Solutions, supporting Everest’s global distribution strategy.
In his new role, Mr. Shaw will lead the division’s international distribution strategy and client engagement model, focused on aligning capabilities, strengthening broker and client relationships, and supporting targeted growth in key markets.
“Mark is an exceptional commercial leader with a proven track record of building high-performing teams and delivering strong outcomes for clients and brokers,” said Adam Clifford. “His experience and insight across the UK and international markets will be key to elevating our market engagement and further expanding our global distribution platform.”
Mr. Shaw joined Everest in 2022 and has held senior roles including UK Commercial Director and Global Account Lead where he was instrumental in strengthening Everest’s position in the London market. Prior to joining Everest, he held senior roles at leading global carriers, bringing more than two decades of experience across underwriting, distribution, and commercial strategy.
Everest Appoints Pamela Sinclair as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Everest Group, Ltd. (NYSE: EG), a global underwriting leader providing best-in-class property, casualty, and specialty reinsurance and insurance solutions, announced that Pamela Sinclair will join Everest as EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer, effective July 14. Ms. Sinclair will report to Jim Williamson, Everest President and CEO, and will serve on the Company’s Executive Leadership Team.
Ms. Sinclair succeeds Gail Van Beveren, Everest’s Chief Human Resources Officer, who will retire after serving at Everest since 1986. Ms. Sinclair brings three decades of experience leading transformational human capital strategies for complex, global financial services and insurance firms, most recently serving as Global Head of Human Resources at PGIM, a leading global asset manager with $1.4 trillion in assets under management.
“Pam is an exceptional HR leader with a track record of optimizing and aligning human capital strategies with business objectives,” said Jim Williamson. “Her broad, global experience will be integral to supporting the world-class talent who drive Everest’s high-performing, people-first culture and deliver on our value creation strategy.”
“At the same time, we thank Gail for her outstanding contributions and commitment to Everest over the past 39 years, and wish her the best in her retirement,” Williamson concluded.
As the Global Head of Human Resources at PGIM, Ms. Sinclair led the firm’s talent acquisition, change management, compensation, succession and leadership development, and employee engagement strategies for 4,500+ global colleagues. Prior to that, Ms. Sinclair served as Global Head of Human Resources at PGIM Real Estate, where she developed and elevated all corporate functions and was a member of the firm’s Global Management Council and the Global Operating Council.
Prior to PGIM, Ms. Sinclair was Senior HR Business Partner for global markets at Barclays Capital, where she led the firm’s learning and development team in New York. She spent over a decade in various senior roles at Barclays Bank in New York and London, overseeing all aspects of human capital management through large-scale M&A activity.
Ms. Sinclair earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Greenwich University in London, where she graduated with honors.
Everest Expands Board of Directors with Appointment of Darryl Page
Everest Group, Ltd. (NYSE: EG), a global underwriting leader providing best-in-class property, casualty, and specialty reinsurance and insurance solutions, announced the addition of Darryl Page as an independent, non-executive member of its Board of Directors.
Mr. Page is a highly regarded insurance executive, bringing over four decades of leadership experience at high-performing complex global organizations. During his 12-year career at Chubb, he served as Division President of International Personal Lines. There, he led a profitable, multibillion-dollar portfolio and operations in 52 countries, driving the company’s international insurance expansion across Europe, Latin America and Asia. He also established and led the agency distribution strategy for Chubb Overseas General, generating over a billion dollars in profitable growth. Additionally, Mr. Page served as Chief Culture Officer, where he spearheaded robust leadership programs supporting diverse talent.
Prior to Chubb, Mr. Page served in various executive leadership positions at prominent insurers, as the President of Personal Insurance at Fireman’s Fund, an Allianz Company, as well as at Allstate, where he spent three decades across underwriting product management, distribution, and general management. He currently serves as a Trustee, Treasurer and Chair-Elect on the Board of Dominican University of California, and he holds a BS, Economics from Santa Clara University.
John Graf, recently approved as Everest Chairman, commented on the appointment, “We are delighted to add Darryl to the Everest board. He brings a wealth of experience successfully scaling profitable insurance businesses through complex markets globally. In addition, his history of developing high performing, accretive cultures will be invaluable as Everest executes on its value creation strategies.”
Everest Appoints Steve Reiss as U.S. Insurance Northeast Regional Executive
Everest announced the appointment of Steve Reiss as U.S. Northeast Regional Executive for Everest Insurance®, where he will oversee the performance and service across the Northeast Region. Mr. Reiss will report to Craig Hanrahan, Head of Field Operations Insurance, based in New York.
“Steve’s trusted leadership, deep broker and client relationships, and proven track record of delivering exceptional service make him an excellent addition to our U.S. retail field operations team,” said Craig Hanrahan. “His leadership across the Northeast region will further strengthen our strategy and enhance the superior service we provide to our retail clients and broker partners.”
With more than three decades of underwriting and broking experience, Mr. Reiss joins Everest from AIG where he most recently served as President of the Northeast Zone, leading client and broker engagement strategies. Prior to that, he served as the Corporate Risk & Broking Leader for the Northeast Region for WTW. Additionally, Mr. Reiss has held executive roles of increasing responsibility at both Chubb and Marsh.
Everest Appoints Joe Fobert to Lead U.S. Insurance Retail Casualty and Industry Practices
Everest announced the appointment of Joe Fobert to Head of U.S. Retail Casualty and Industry Practices for Everest Insurance®. He will report to William Hazelton, Executive Vice President of Everest Insurance® and President of North America Insurance.
“Joe is an accomplished industry leader with a proven track record of scaling businesses and achieving consistent, profitable growth,” said William Hazelton. “His deep expertise in large account excess casualty lines, strategic vision and collaborative leadership, make him the ideal choice to lead the ongoing transformation of our U.S. Casualty portfolio. I look forward to working with him as we continue to deliver on Everest’s commitment to providing specialized solutions and exceptional service for our clients and brokers.”
Mr. Fobert brings more than three decades of commercial underwriting expertise, having previously served as Head of Major Accounts Excess Casualty and Chairman of Global Casualty Product Board for Chubb. He has also held casualty and risk management leadership roles of increasing responsibility at AIG and Crum & Forster.