Headquarters:

16501 Ventura Blvd., Suite 200, Encino, CA 91436

Year founded:

1974

Number of employees:

320+

Phone:

323 428 2485

Email:

sbennasar@tmhcc.com

Website:

tmhcc.com/cyber

LinkedIn:

linkedin.com/company/tmhcc-cyber-and-professional-lines-group

Mike Palotay

Chief Executive Officer

Desiree Khoury

Chief Growth Officer

Catherine Lyle

Chief Cyber Services Officer

Leadership

Michael Palotay serves as chief executive officer of Tokio Marine HCC – Cyber & Professional Lines Group, where he leads the organization’s strategic growth and vision across the cyber and professional liability marketplace. Since joining NAS Insurance in 2009 to launch its cyber & technology underwriting facility, he has played a pivotal role in building and expanding the organization’s market-leading portfolio. Known for his underwriting expertise, innovative mindset, and people-first leadership, Palotay previously served as the group’s chief underwriting officer and president. He continues to champion operational excellence, product innovation, and strong industry partnerships while advancing the organization’s commitment to helping businesses thrive in an evolving risk landscape.

Chief Executive Officer

Mike Palotay

Desiree Khoury serves as chief growth officer for Tokio Marine HCC – CPLG, where she leads strategic growth initiatives across marketing, business development, communications, and market expansion. She oversees marketing and brand strategy for CPLG’s portfolio of specialty insurance solutions, including cyber liability, technology E&O, EPLI, and professional liability programs. Known for her collaborative leadership and strategic vision, Khoury plays a key role in strengthening broker and partner relationships, expanding distribution opportunities, and advancing the organization’s market presence. She was recognized as an Elite Woman in Insurance in 2019 and has dedicated more than a decade to the organization’s growth and success.

Chief Growth Officer

Desiree Khoury

Catherine Lyle is chief cyber services officer at Tokio Marine HCC – CPLG. She leads all client-facing cyber services, including claims, incident management, digital forensics and incident response, managed detection and response, and product development. She sets the strategic vision for integrating cyber risk, response, and recovery to deliver a seamless client experience. With more than 25 years of experience, she is a recognized leader in cyber law and cyber claims, as well as a frequent speaker and published author. Previously, she served as head of claims at Coalition, was an attorney at General Electric, and an assistant attorney general for Massachusetts. She is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and Colorado.

Chief Cyber Services Officer

Catherine Lyle

Tina Levine

Vice President, Cyber Underwriting

Tina Levine serves as vice president of cyber underwriting for Tokio Marine HCC – CPLG, where she leads underwriting strategy and operational initiatives for the Cyber & Tech team. Since joining the organization in 2012, she has played a key role in advancing underwriting excellence, process innovation, and cross-functional leadership across the cyber division. With more than 14 years of industry experience, Levine is recognized for her expertise in cyber underwriting management, strategic execution, and team development. She is committed to fostering collaboration and delivering innovative solutions that address the evolving needs of clients and distribution partners in today’s complex cyber risk landscape.

Vice President, Cyber Underwriting

Tina Levine

Kareen Boyadjian

Vice President, Cyber Underwriting

Kareen Boyadjian, based in Los Angeles, CA, leads national product strategy and initiatives for personal cyber called NetGuard® SELECT and healthcare cyber and regulatory billing E&O products, Medefense® Plus and e-MD®. Since joining the company in 2011 as an underwriting assistant, Boyadjian has over 14 years of experience in cyber underwriting and production. She is well-regarded in the industry as a formidable and professional leader, particularly noted for her advocacy for women in professional careers. Boyadjian’s expertise encompasses production underwriting and management, and she is committed to developing innovative, impactful solutions for customers and distribution partners alike.

Vice President, Cyber Underwriting

Kareen Boyadjian

Tina Flyger

Head of People and Culture

Matthew Westwood-Hill

Chief Information Security Officer

Kathy Pallasis

Manager, Human Resources

Pam Chhabra

Manager – Residential Strata

Tina Flyger commenced as head of people and culture in 2024. With over 15 years of human resources experience, she believes people are the cornerstone of any organisation. She takes a collaborative approach, working closely with executives, managers and teams to shape and deliver effective strategy. She is a dynamic, approachable and highly experienced people and culture leader, with a background spanning both schools and industry. Flyger’s expertise is key to nurturing staff and students, strengthening relationships, and fostering a positive, forward-looking culture that supports the continued growth and success of the Kingswood College community.

Head of People and Culture

Tina Flyger

Matthew Westwood-Hill is a seasoned cyber security leader with over 20 years’ experience in digital forensics, incident response and information security. He has led teams at SBS, CyberCX, and Ernst & Young, managing major incidents and aligning security strategies with business goals. Westwood-Hill is known for his innovative, risk-reducing solutions and clear communication with executives and regulators. He drives awareness, compliance and resilience through training, policy and strategic planning. A frequent speaker and media contributor, he holds advanced qualifications in cyber security and digital forensics and is a recognised expert witness committed to continuous learning and emerging threat readiness.

Chief Information Security Officer

Matthew Westwood-Hill

Kathy Pallasis, manager, human resources at Frontier Software, leads HR strategy and operations from Melbourne. She oversees policy development, employee relations, and internal communications, working closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams. Pallasis is known for her clear, responsive communication and collaborative approach. She manages employee records, supports strategic planning and coordinates workplace logistics. With experience in enterprise software, payroll systems and governance, Pallasis is a trusted resource for internal stakeholders. She holds a humanities degree, is a member of AHRI, and actively contributes to continuous improvement and inclusive workplace practices through policy and operational leadership.

Manager, Human Resources

Kathy Pallasis

Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager. As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.

Commercial Manager

Stephen McMillan

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TOKIO MARINE HCC – CYBER & PROFESSIONAL LINES GROUP

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Adam Basaldella

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Product Manager

Claire Watson

Commercial Manager

Stephen McMillan

“We don’t wait for issues to arise – we regularly review plans, highlight emerging risks or opportunities, and suggest improvements where appropriate”

John Glynn, Ascent Insurance Services

“In the group benefits space, we’re not just providing plans – we’re supporting employees’ health, financial security, and peace of mind”

John Glynn, Ascent Insurance Services

Client retention at Ascent is notably high, and the firm attributes this directly to its proactive engagement model. Rather than completing a plan setup and stepping back, Ascent maintains regular structured reviews and keeps a close watch on plan performance, emerging risks, and market changes. “We don’t wait for issues to arise – we regularly review plans, highlight emerging risks or opportunities, and suggest improvements where appropriate,” Glynn says. This combination of accessibility, responsiveness, and ongoing advisory is what makes Ascent’s client relationships long-standing rather than transactional. Looking ahead, Ascent’s ambitions are deliberate and grounded. The firm intends to deepen its advisory capability, invest further in client communication, and grow in a controlled, sustainable way that preserves the high-touch service model that defines it. “The aim is to expand in a controlled and sustainable way, bringing on the right clients and maintaining the high-touch, relationship-led service that defines our approach, rather than scaling for volume alone,” he explains.

IQumulate invests in education and people, which are vital to attracting new business and talent to the company. “We have long tenures for several of our key staff, including some in leadership positions, and this sound working knowledge of our business, practices and industry provides great insights and a wealth of experience to offer our clients,” says Bastow. “Our new head of sales, Graeme Gordon, formerly manager for New Zealand, joins us in Australia to drive our sales strategy and lead our team to successful outcomes for our clients and our business. We look forward to great things ahead with Graeme as he continues to be active and present in the New Zealand market as well as building sound working relationships and new connections in Australia.” Clients can also expect a lot from working with IQumulate. “Through active engagement with our trusted broker network, IQumulate provides relevant information, education and training content,” says Graeme Gordon, head of sales. “Our clients can expect IQumulate to support their business in several ways, providing an understanding of what premium funding solutions are available and how IQumulate can spread the cost of insurance and help borrowers get the right level of insurance cover to free up their cash flow for other expenses or business growth opportunities. Premium funding is often considered a tool for those who simply cannot afford to pay their premiums in full. While this is certainly a significant driver for many, it is also successfully used by profitable companies who use premium funding to manage their cash flows more wisely or better manage their liquidity.”

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Benefits

Compensation

Culture

Diversity, equity and inclusion

Innovation

Reputation

Sustainable programs

Overall

Much of Ascent’s trajectory can be traced to Glynn’s influence. Combining strong relationship-building skills with operational discipline, he has set the tone for how the firm approaches both business development and service delivery. That philosophy has driven steady growth through referrals and long-term partnerships, and it underpins Ascent’s internal culture too. Glynn’s hands-on mentorship is central to team development, ensuring that every client interaction reflects a consistent standard of expertise and care. The most significant strategic shift of recent years has been a deliberate move away from standardized benefits toward highly customized, client-specific solutions. Ascent recognised early that even a well-structured plan fails if employees do not understand or engage with it. The firm responded by placing benefits education at the heart of its service model – simplifying communication, improving employee uptake, and helping clients see a measurable return on their investment. Ascent’s specialist strength lies in helping employers balance cost control with meaningful employee value. “We work closely with clients to align their benefits offering with their workforce profile, industry, and company culture,” Glynn says. That includes evaluating different carrier options, plan structures, and funding arrangements to identify the right fit.

Tokio Marine HCC – Cyber & Professional Lines Group (CPLG) is a leading provider of cyber insurance solutions, recognized for delivering innovative products, expert underwriting, and exceptional service in today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape. Combining deep cyber expertise with proactive risk management, incident response resources, dedicated claims support, and value-added services, such as managed detection and response (MDR), CPLG helps organizations strengthen cyber resilience before, during, and after an incident. Built to address the increasing sophistication of cyber threats, CPLG’s holistic approach helps policyholders reduce exposure, respond faster, recover stronger, and minimize business disruption. The organization is known for its disciplined underwriting, collaborative broker partnerships, and commitment to delivering tailored solutions that evolve alongside emerging risks. Professional liability products and embedded solutions remain a key differentiator within CPLG’s broader specialty platform. Its industry leadership has been recognized through multiple Insurance Business America 5-Star Cyber Awards, honoring CPLG’s standout cyber products, underwriting expertise, claims handling, and service excellence. Tokio Marine HCC is a member of the Tokio Marine Group, a premier global company founded in 1879 with a market capitalization of $81 billion as of September 30, 2025. Headquartered in Houston, TX, Tokio Marine HCC is a leading specialty insurance group with offices in the US, Mexico, the UK, and continental Europe. Tokio Marine HCC is the marketing name used to describe the affiliated companies under the common ownership of HCC Insurance Holdings Inc., a Delaware-incorporated insurance holding company. For more information about Tokio Marine HCC, please visit tokiomarinehcc.com.

Operators, not tourists Oliver is led by people who’ve lived inside the systems they’re building. CEO Gerald Cole sets the vision around usability, integration depth, and long-term leverage — where data and architecture compound in value over time. President Corwyn Amendt drives execution, ensuring the platform evolves in lockstep with operational reality. Vice president Riyaad Ammantoola brings a delivery-first mindset shaped by pensions, analytics, and service design, while senior technical strategist Rao Thudi anchors the platform with the deep systems expertise required to keep complex environments stable and scalable. This isn’t innovation theater. It’s applied systems thinking. From foundation to flywheel Over the past several years, Oliver has invested heavily in the fundamentals: API infrastructure, group billing, multi-plan administration, data integrity, and disciplined onboarding frameworks. That foundation now powers something more important — momentum. New clients go live faster. New capabilities layer in without destabilizing operations. New ideas move from concept to production without multi-year programs. The roadmap builds forward from there: expanded real-time capabilities in Oliver Connect, deeper API infrastructure, stronger support for pensions and multi-employer environments, and selective AI features focused on reducing administrative drag, not replacing human judgment. Consulting services continue to evolve alongside the platform, aligned to execution, not theory. A different definition of leadership Some companies lead with history. Others lead with promises. Oliver leads with architecture, execution, and results. We believe the next generation of insurance and benefits platforms won’t be defined by how long they’ve existed, but by how effectively they help organizations adapt, connect, and move forward in a complex world. That’s the work we’re here to do. And we’re just getting started.