VP, Head of Excess Casualty

Argo Group is a leader in specialty insurance with a vibrant culture built on respect, equality, wellness and opportunity. We’re an innovative organization that’s small enough to be agile and big enough to make a difference in our industry.  

Our collaborative workplace is continuously evolving to ensure all employees feel: 

• Comfortable bringing their whole selves to work. 
• Confident that they will be treated respectfully. 
• Recognized for their performance and provided with equal opportunities to succeed. 

At Argo, skill meets opportunity. If you’re wired to raise your hand and ask, “Where can I help?”, you’ll thrive with us. 

Argo Group currently has a challenging opportunity for a VP, Head of Excess in their Casualty line of business.  This position will provide strategic guidance and direction to the underwriting business units in regard to business development, underwriting excellence, and operational/shared services to promote profitable underwriting results. Will be responsible for driving profitable growth for assigned product or territory. Will collaborate with executive management to develop strategic and tactical initiatives to reach the organization’s goals.

The primary duties and responsibilities of the role are:

• Identify and support profitable new business and product opportunities.
• Identify strategic agencies and facilitate effective partnerships with underwriting and marketing.
• Lead process improvement and underwriting strategies for assigned area.
• Identify program opportunities and coordinate underwriting resources to accomplish.
• Drive product and platform expansion.
• Establish and communicate production and profit-related goals including new business development, distribution platform management, target loss ratios, policy count, hit ratios, renewal retention as it relates to new product/program launch, etc.
• Provide leadership, mentoring and advice to regional staff regarding underwriting risks.
• Proactively develop strategies and actions to resolve adverse trends or deviations from established underwriting standards identified through producer and account review audits.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with distribution community at a senior level.  Adds tangible value to the composition of our current distribution platform. 
• Collaborate with executive management when needed to analyze profit and loss statements to make appropriate business decisions. 
• Cultivate and maintain relationships within and outside Argo Group to develop and drive new business opportunities.
• Act as a role model demonstrating belief in, and commitment to, the aspiration values of the Argo Group continuing to build and lead a value-based organization committed to long-term success.
• Typically manages a mid-size team of professional level underwriters and people managers.
• Participate in the recruitment and selection process to ensure the organization has the necessary talent to accomplish business goals.
• Promote an environment that encourages self-motivation, teamwork and collaboration.
• Ensure professional development of underwriting team including continued growth in underwriting knowledge and skills as well as professional behavior
• As necessary, work with reinsurers and reinsurance intermediaries.  

Core qualifications and requirements for this position include:

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum of 15 years underwriting experience with experience underwriting and marketing or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Management experience required with a proven ability to successfully lead a team. 10 years management experience highly preferred.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the external market, producer community, competitive environment and contributes to the development of business strategy.
• Superior oral and written communication skills with the ability to influence decisions.
• Ability to influence, motivates, and promotes a team atmosphere to achieve desired results.
• Recognized as a leader within the organization that provides advice and guidance to others.
• Ability to read, understand and interpret company financial and actuarial reports to achieve business goals.
• Strong ability to partner with claims, finance, actuarial, IT and marketing resources.
• Independent decision maker – takes full responsibility for making decisions and consequences associated with decisions.
• Demonstrate significant contribution to underwriting profit.
• Continually seeks opportunities for niche pro