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
The foundation of Stuart Brown’s career relies on one simple concept: impact matters more than titles.
“I have never followed a fixed or linear career plan,” he reflects. Instead, he has consistently chosen roles at the edge of change – new ventures, growth environments and transformation programs where progress is measured in outcomes, not presentations.
That philosophy underpins Brown’s leadership as CEO at The Bridge International, a management consultancy firm where he was one of the founding partners more than eight years ago. From the early days of launching Coles Insurance to establishing the advisory business, he has sought opportunities to build something meaningful rather than maintain the status quo.
He sees his journey as a series of chapters shaped by curiosity, learning and a willingness to step into the unknown. That appetite for challenge culminated in a senior advisory role on the sale of RAA Insurance to Allianz in 2025 – a $642-million transaction equating to 24 times earnings, delivering a standout outcome for members, the community and the RAA brand.
“My strongest professional quality is building trust with clients, teams, and stakeholders,” he says. That trust is earned by staying close to the work, being transparent about trade-offs and taking ownership for delivery long after the initial strategy is agreed. He reinforces this with a disciplined mindset that tests decisions through the lenses of culture, customer and commercials.
Over the past 12 months, Brown’s contribution to the insurance sector has centred around disciplined execution and building resilient organisations. He describes his focus as “delivery, contribution, and capability uplift,” leading transformation and transaction work for insurers while also helping the wider industry learn from those experiences.
In 2025, he spearheaded the inaugural Heartbeat of General Insurance Report in partnership with ANZIIF, drawing on insights from senior leaders across large insurers, challengers, mutuals, brokers and underwriting agencies. The findings reinforced Brown’s belief that technology is only as powerful as the organisations deploying it. Many leaders see technology-driven efficiency and AI-enabled customer engagement as major opportunities, yet many professionals report little formal training in using AI tools.
This gap sharpened his conviction that the standouts of the next decade will be those who invest in talent, empower teams and reward learning – not just those who chase efficiency metrics. Through ANZIIF webinars, industry forums and advisory work, Brown shares practical lessons from complex transformations, helping leaders make better decisions and deliver lasting outcomes.
For Brown, being recognised as one of Insurance Business’ Hot List 2026 winners is a by-product, not the end goal.
“I am motivated by impact. I set high standards for myself and the work that we do because of the responsibility the insurance sector carries and the real-world consequences of the choices we make,” he says.
L20/135 King St, Sydney, NSW 2000
0413 473 670
stuart.brown@thebridgeinternational.com.au
linkedin.com/in/stuartbrownau
Stuart Brown
Chief Executive Officer
The Bridge International
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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
2009–2012
2012–2015
2015–2018
2019–2026
2026–Present
Pricing Analyst at Wesfarmers Insurance and Support Pricing Analyst at Suncorp. Built foundational expertise in pricing, analytics and insurance product development. Contributed to large-scale platform builds, product launches and portfolio optimisation initiatives.
2009–
2012
Home Portfolio Lead. Held P&L accountability for home insurance portfolio. Delivered strong financial results, achieved ~50 percent portfolio growth and accelerated profitability targets ahead of plan. Led pricing transformation and risk modelling uplift.
2012–
2015
P&L/Portfolio Manager and Manager, Enterprise Value at IAG. Managed end-to-end insurance portfolio performance, including strategy, financial outcomes and growth. Led enterprise value initiatives, capital investment planning (~$60m) and executive-level strategic planning.
2015–
2018
Partner & Practice Lead – General Insurance at The Bridge International. Led commercial insurance advisory, specialising in strategy, portfolio performance and transformation across the insurance value chain. Drives client outcomes across underwriting, CX and operational excellence.
2019–
2026
Chief Executive Officer at The Bridge International. Appointed CEO to lead a non-traditional consulting firm, driving strategic growth, client impact and expansion across financial services and adjacent industries.
2026–
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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