VP Underwriting, Private Commercial Management Liability

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 flexible 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. 

JOB PURPOSE: To provide strategic guidance and direction to the underwriting business units in regard to business development, Private Commercial underwriting excellence, and operational/shared services to promote profitable underwriting results. This role will be based in California and will oversee the Private Commercial team in the West.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The VP of Private Commercial is responsible for driving profitable growth in assigned territory with current and new trading partners. Collaborates with the Private Commercial team lead to develop strategic and tactical initiatives to reach the organization’s goals.  Additional duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Identify and support profitable new business and product opportunities.
• Identify strategic agencies and facilitate effective partnerships with underwriting and marketing.
• Assist with process implementation and underwriting strategies for the Private commercial business units.
• Identify program opportunities and coordinate underwriting resources to accomplish.
• Contribute to 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.
• Assist as requested to 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. 
• Participate in the recruitment and selection process to ensure the organization has the necessary talent to accomplish business goals.
• Assists as requested 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.
• Take a lead role in promoting other Argo Pro and AGII products.
• Promote an environment that encourages self-motivation, teamwork and collaboration.
• As necessary, work with reinsurers and reinsurance intermediaries.  
• 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.       

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred and minimum of 15 years underwriting experience with experience underwriting and marketing commercial products.
• Minimum 10 years management experience.
• 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 products and potential agent opportunities.
• Experience in delivering presentations to internal and external audiences.
• Requires demonstrated experience in developing and implementing an annual department business plan
• Proven employee development, mentoring, coaching and performance