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
Kylie Ciechanowicz is general manager, Centra and an executive team member at Network Insurance Group (NIG). Having started her career with an international engineering company and nurturing her aptitude for effective operational outcomes, Ciechanowicz “fell” into the insurance industry. Sixteen years later, she finds herself in the role of an innovator.
While managing the biggest division across NIG’s vast network of brokers – and the most competitive, which is SME/retail – she also takes pride in her role on the executive team, where her positive influence impacts the business significantly, whether through the people, process, automation, or innovative solutions that create efficiency and outstanding customer experiences.
“Development in the role and being offered the opportunity to add value has been my biggest achievement to date,” Ciechanowicz says, pointing to the growth not only in her area, but the portfolio approach, which involves the many people she has worked with and the variety of challenges she has successfully navigated, particularly over the last three to four years.
According to her, it’s about walking the walk.
“Displaying the traits of a good broker means so much more to people than simply telling them. They need to see you, how you operate, the effort you put in… and the rewards will come.”
Suite 6.02, 135 King St., Sydney 2000
0408 865782
pstansfield@networksteadfast.com.au
linkedin.com/in/kylie-ciechanowicz-075233120
networksteadfast.com.au
Kylie Ciechanowicz
General Manager, Centra
Network Insurance Group
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
Profile
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
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
1998–2008
2008–2014
2014–2019
2019–present
2023–present
Operations Manager, International Engineering Company
1998–
2008
Operations Manager at DMA Insurance Brokers
2008–
2014
Operations Manager at Steadfast IRS
2014–
2019
General Manager, Centra, Steadfast IRS t/as Network Insurance Group
2019–
present
Executive Team Member at Network Insurance Group
2023–
present
Assistant Vice President and Senior Broker at MJ Hall & Company since 2018
Present
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
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.
•
•
•
•
•