Profile
“Westfield Specialty and I have been trying to make sure we are opportunistic in the marketplace and that has allowed us to grow profitably and create a broader and more diversified portfolio”
Jack Kuhn
Westfield Specialty
Eric Lowenstein entered insurance through law and built his career by following what interested him and saying yes to the right opportunities. He started in an insurance team at a law firm, then moved to an insurer, working across underwriting, claims management, product development and broking relationships.
A subsequent move into broking added direct client experience before he brought those experiences together in establishing Tego as an underwriting agency. As CEO, his inclusion in Insurance Business’ Hot List 2026 comes as that model is put to work while the market responds to change.
Running an underwriting agency requires managing multiple demands at once. Lowenstein approaches this by building a team and staying closely connected to the market through ongoing dialogue with brokers, clients, lawyers and industry stakeholders. He places emphasis on asking questions and staying curious and connected to what is happening, particularly as AI reshapes how risk is assessed and how clients operate.
Over the past 12 months, his focus has been on the implications of AI for insurance. He notes that healthcare has been at the front line of adoption. This has placed Tego in a position where product development and market education have become central to its work, including exploration of what could become a standalone AI insurance product as traditional policies move toward tighter exclusions.
“The gap between how fast AI is being adopted and how fast insurance is responding to it is widening, and someone needs to be talking about it plainly,” he says.
Lowenstein’s approach has been to form a view on these developments and share it openly. This focus on preparation and awareness is matched by a broader effort to contribute to industry understanding of how AI will affect traditional products. He also recognises that the pace of change leaves little room to stand still, with constant engagement required to keep pace with how quickly AI is reshaping the market.
He sees parallels with the development of cyber insurance, where the industry responded slowly and spent years adjusting to emerging risk. In contrast, he views discussion of standalone AI cover and transparency around gaps in existing policies as a way to give brokers, clients and insurers more time to respond.
A focus on relationships sits alongside entrepreneurial thinking in his approach. Trust underpins both client and broker engagement.
“In this industry, trust is everything,” he remarks.
Suite 19.02, Level 19, 56 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
1300 834 683
clientsupport@tego.com.au
linkedin.com/in/tegoinsurance
tego.com.au
Eric Lowenstein
Chief Executive Officer
Tego
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Milestones
“The biggest challenge is getting everyone comfortable with the pace that I’m looking for to drive our buildout and growth. How I deal with it is by being open and transparent, and responsive to questions or concerns”
Jack Kuhn
Westfield Specialty
2006–2008
2008–2011
2012–2015
2017–2021
Present
Lawyer at Deacons/Norton Rose
2006–
2008
Product Development Manager, Asia-Pacific at Liberty International Underwriters
2008–
2011
2012–2015: Client Manager & Cyber Risks Practice Leader at Aon Risk Solutions
2014–Present: Board Member at Wolper Hospital
2015–Present: Chief Executive Officer at Tego Insurance
2012–
2015
Board Member at Underwriting Agencies Council
2017–
2021
Senior Associate at Cooney Lees Morgan since 2022
Present
Milestones
Kuhn says, “I would say my career has been one of more of chance and opportunities than a set plan. And it’s interesting how one decision has a ripple effect on putting you on a different path than maybe where you thought you would be.”
He highlights his spell at Endurance as his biggest professional achievement to date.
“It took some time, but we took them from really being viewed as a reinsurance company to being viewed as a global insurance company.”
It’s this type of innovative attitude that is powering Westfield Specialty forward so successfully.
Kuhn explains, “Westfield Specialty and I have been trying to make sure we are opportunistic in the marketplace and that has allowed us to grow profitably and create a broader and more diversified portfolio.”
Part of this has seen the firm acquire the existing Lloyd’s of London Syndicate 1200 in February 2023. It is also Kuhn’s ingenuity that has allowed Westfield Specialty to outperform expectations in challenging market conditions.
“I would say it’s been the understanding that there is a limited window of time. We're in this unique market, we need to be fast and decisive to take advantage of market opportunities before the market begins to move away,” he comments. “Additionally, I'd like to say we move with a lot of speed, but we do it in a thoughtful and methodical approach, not just to be the first.”
However, it has been an intricate process to ensure his team are onboard with his vision. Kuhn places importance of explaining his targets and the blueprint to achieve them.
He adds, “The biggest challenge is getting everyone comfortable with the pace that I’m looking for to drive our buildout and growth. How I deal with it is by being open and transparent, and responsive to questions or concerns. This way, everything gets thoroughly discussed and resolved.”
With almost four decades in the industry, Kuhn has developed methods that have consistently delivered. It is why he has been tasked with so many leadership roles and he intends to maintain his focus on creating more success at Westfield Specialty.
“I think I am and have always tried to be methodical. I look at the big picture yet stay focused on executing the different opportunities or plans that I have in front of me. I don’t get emotional or make emotional decisions.”
Chief underwriting officer of executive risk at Chubb
President of financial insurance solutions at Kemper
Chief underwriting officer at Axis Capital
CEO of global Insurance at Endurance
CEO of global Insurance at Sompo International
Kuhn joined Westfield Specialty in the firm’s first year (2021) and has established the company’s presence in the specialty market. By the end of 2023, the firm is expected to surpass $1.3 billion in GWP after writing $300 million in 2021.
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