Profile
“We keep evolving the brand as we grow and expand, which is equally rewarding and satisfying”
Alice Phillips Topping
Ryan Specialty
Charles Williamson is the CEO of Victor Insurance Managers, joining the leading global managing general underwriter in August 2023. Prior to Victor, he was co-founder and CEO of Vault, a managing general agent operating as a reciprocal insurance exchange and serving high-net-worth clients in the US. He has found success on both the underwriting and brokerage sides of insurance, but the early part of his career was spent with AIG, where he really honed his leadership style.
As CEO, Williamson is leading Victor into a new era of growth, which will drive further expansion in the markets Victor already serves as well as new markets in emerging and underserved areas of risk. Victor currently operates in seven countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany and Australia. In the US, its flagship Victor specialty underwriting operation is augmented by Victor Small Business, the digital MGA for small commercial insurance, ICAT, offering market-leading wind and earthquake coverage, and Torrent Technologies, the leading flood insurance provider serving both FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program, as well as the private insurance market.
Victor has a long history spanning over 65 years and has become one of the largest MGUs in the world through its combination of strong specialty expertise, underwriting discipline, distribution networks and depth of talent.
1400 - 1 York St., Toronto, ON M5J 0B6
416 457 1917
colette.Taylor@sovgen.com
linkedin.com/in/colette-taylor-377541b
sovereigninsurance.ca
Charles Williamson
Chief Executive Officer
Victor Insurance Managers
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Bio
Milestones
“It’s very important to set an example and to not only inspire but mentor other females”
Alice Phillips Topping
Ryan Specialty
1995–2004
2010–2018
2020
2022
2023
1995–1998: Started out as a broker at Marsh
1998–2004: Quickly rose through the ranks as an underwriter at QBE Insurance and The St Paul/Travelers before taking on an account executive role at Jones DesLauriers
1995–
2004
2010: Joined RSA and held increasingly senior leadership roles within the organization, including VP of Global Specialty Lines
2018: Joined Sovereign Insurance as VP of Specialty Operations and Specialty Distribution
2010–
2018
Took on the commercial oversight as VP of Commercial and Specialty Lines at Sovereign Insurance
2020
Appointed as COO of Sovereign Insurance
Recognized as one of IBC’s Elite Women
2022
Shortlisted for IBC’s CEO of the Year award
Flagged for the leadership fast-track program during her time at RSA
2023
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
• Gold award for Magazine or Newspaper Advertisement
• Silver award for Promotional Email
• Silver award for Most Out-of-the-Box Idea
As a founding member of WOW! (Women. Opportunity. Winning.), an employee resource group created for all women of Ryan Specialty, Phillips Topping has long championed for women in the industry.
“It’s very important to set an example and to not only inspire but mentor other females,” she adds.
In addition to her sharp marketing eye, the key to Phillips Topping’s success lies in her high-energy approach and positive attitude.
“As the leader of a team, it’s important to motivate and encourage your team members. People work very hard and do their best and it’s important to recognize these efforts. For my career overall, my attitude has been one of curiosity. The more you can learn, the better you’ll understand the business, and then the deeper your knowledge will become, making you a better team member.”
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
“We keep evolving the brand as we grow and expand, which is equally rewarding and satisfying,” adds Phillips Topping.
“Marketing is a very busy space. The challenge is to keep it fresh and keep it new. There’s so much out there. You have to think about how to break through.”
Since joining the firm in 2015, Ryan Specialty has:
• completed 28 acquisitions
• launched 10 companies
“With each acquisition and de novo formation, a large branding component is involved,” says Phillips Topping.
Speaking on the importance of spotlighting marketing professionals, Phillips Topping says, “It’s imperative to shine a light on those who aren’t necessarily brokers or underwriters. There are so many different aspects of the industry. It’s nice to show all the great work that’s being done behind the scenes.”
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