Headquarters:
Alpharetta, GA
Year founded:
1993, with a heritage dating to 1837
Number of employees:
736
Phone:
1 877 532 6864
Email:
marketing@westchester.com
Website:
westchester.com/en/home.html
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/axis-capital
“We prioritise embracing cutting-edge technologies, creative problem solving and continuous improvement to enhance our premium funding solutions and provide exceptional value to our clients”
Matt Cibulskas
Senior Vice President, Chief Underwriting Officer
John Carini
Senior Vice President, Small Financial and Digital
Michael Kramer
Senior Vice President, Professional and Cyber Liability
Leadership
Matt Cibulskas is senior vice president at Westchester, A Chubb Company, where he serves as chief underwriting officer to the financial lines practice. He has served in various roles of increasing responsibility across the practice with a focus on both professional and management liability. Cibulskas has been with the organization since 2002. Prior to joining Westchester, he spent four years in AIG’s professional liability division. He began his career at Gen Re, where he was a client auditor.
Senior Vice President, Chief Underwriting Officer
Matt Cibulskas
John Carini is senior vice president at Westchester, A Chubb Company, where he leads the digital and small financial tower for Westchester Financial Lines. He has more than two decades of experience specializing in professional and management liability underwriting, with a focus on small, transactional business and technology-driven initiatives.
Carini joined Westchester from USLI, where he held various roles of increasing responsibility, ultimately serving as a product leader.
Senior Vice President, Small Financial and Digital
John Carini
Michael Kramer is senior vice president at Westchester, A Chubb Company, where he leads the professional and cyber liability tower. He has deep product expertise as he brings over two decades of professional liability and cyber experience to Westchester Financial Lines, where he has served in various roles of increasing responsibility.
Prior to joining Westchester, Kramer was a broker at Tri-City Brokerage and is a licensed P&C and SL producer.
Senior Vice President, Professional and Cyber Liability
Michael Kramer
BRETT BASTOW, IQUMULATE PREMIUM FUNDINGs
Leadership
Leadership
Brooke Szewczyk
Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
Brooke Szewczyk is senior vice president at Westchester, A Chubb Company, where she serves as chief operating officer to the financial lines practice. She brings nearly two decades of experience to Westchester Financial Lines, where she has served in various roles of increasing responsibility, including management liability and financial institution underwriting.
Szewczyk has a BS in mathematics from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
Brooke Szewczyk
Andrea Larkin, RPLU
Executive Vice President, Westchester Financial Lines Practice Leader
Andrea Larkin is executive vice president at Westchester, A Chubb Company, where she leads the financial lines practice. She has nearly two decades of experience specializing in financial lines and medical risk underwriting as well as distribution, business development, and broker management.
She maintains an RPLU designation from the Professional Liability Underwriting Society and has a BSBA in risk management and insurance from the Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University.
Executive Vice President, Westchester Financial Lines Practice Leader
Andrea Larkin, RPLU
Stevens & Associates Lawyers is a leading and trusted employment law firm based in Sydney known for delivering high-quality legal expertise in the area of employment law and industrial relations across Australia, alongside a proven track record of effectively and swiftly resolving a variety of workplace law issues.
In the past year, the firm’s growth has been notable. It has:
• experienced a 213% growth in the number of client matters, increasing from 149 client matters in the 2022 financial year to 390 client matters in the 2023 financial year
• improved its online visibility, leading to over 50 online enquiries each month and a conversion rate of client leads of up to 40%
• significantly expanded the breadth and type of matters that it advises on day to day, which has increased the firm’s skillsets, diversity and resilience
• expanded its community outreach by collaborating with local Sydney venues for client seminars and continuing active participation in a Sydney small/family business group
Stevens & Associates Lawyers has adapted to digital trends by implementing an effective strategy with SEO and web design, resulting in a structural shift that has seen increased representation of employees where the firm previously mainly advised employers.
The firm’s recognition as a “Fast Firm” attests to its momentum in the employment law space.
“IQumulate is on a technology journey, and we’re just getting started”
Wayne Tower,
IQumulate Premium Funding
Kelly Donaghy
Senior Vice President, Management Liability, Private and Not for Profit
Greg Bert
Senior Vice President, Financial Institutions
Rich Luca
Senior Vice President, Management Liability, Public
Pam Chhabra
Manager – Residential Strata
Kelly Donaghy is senior vice president at Westchester, A Chubb Company, where she leads the private and not-for-profit management liability tower. She brings over a decade of experience to Westchester Financial Lines where she has served in various regions and roles of increasing responsibility.
Donaghy has a BSBA in risk management from Florida State University.
Senior Vice President, Management Liability, Private and Not for Profit
Kelly Donaghy
Greg Bert is senior vice president at Westchester, A Chubb Company, where he leads the financial institutions tower. He has been with the organization since 2012 and has held various roles with increasing responsibility in financial lines. Prior to joining Westchester, he spent time in the asset management, trading, and brokerage industries.
He has a BS in business administration from Bryant University.
Senior Vice President, Financial Institutions
Greg Bert
Rich Luca is senior vice president at Westchester, A Chubb Company, where he leads the public company management liability tower. Since joining the organization in 2004, he has held leadership roles across both retail and wholesale businesses.
Before ACE/Chubb, he established and managed the non-standard D&O unit at The Gulf Insurance Company.
Senior Vice President, Management Liability, Public
Rich Luca
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
One culmination of these efforts has been the real-world, needs-based IQEdge solution. A one-stop online quoting tool designed for both the Australian and New Zealand markets, IQEdge delivers quotes in under 60 seconds. Plus, the solution offers quote comparison and quote versioning capabilities, enabling users to review vital historical and financial data in a single page view.
IQEdge can streamline and automate application processing, underwriting document verification and payment collection, cutting the need for manual labour and minimising processing errors. A digital “self-service” platform, IQEdge, reduces the need for customer and administrative support. Meanwhile, borrowers can access their accounts, make payments and manage their policies independently and through sales and support teams, which are always available for further assistance.
“We’ve created a quality platform that simplifies the quoting process yet amplifies the customer experience,” says Gordon. “It’s a real game changer.” IQumulate offers an online digital quoting tool to clients. The best-in-market solution enables IQumulate to tailor funding offerings to brokers that align with their prefered distribution channel.
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Turnaround time – claims
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What does IQumulate have in mind for the future?
“IQumulate is on a technology journey, and we’re just getting started,” says Wayne Tower, CEO. “Through continuous engagement with our clients, partners, marketplace and industry, we will listen to the needs as they arise and position our business to be agile and respond to changes as they occur.
“Faster decision-making innovations such as AI-powered decision support systems can expedite the underwriting and approval process, leading to quicker responses to clients. This can improve client satisfaction and potentially attract more business, creating a competitive advantage with the potential to allow IQumulate to command premium pricing or capture a larger market share.
“As forward-thinkers with a digital and ‘do it better’ mindset, we collectively and proactively look to learn and improve on our customer experience for our clients, paving the way for successful business outcomes for our clients and our business in the coming years ahead.
“We’re excited for the future and look forward to what’s on the horizon.”
Adam Basaldella
Manager – Claims
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.
Product Manager
Claire Watson
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
Claire Watson
Product Manager
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.
Product Manager
Claire Watson
Claire Watson
Product Manager
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.
Product Manager
Claire Watson
“We are powered by a culture that rewards collaboration, inclusivity, and innovation”
Spokesperson, SPG Canada
“We’re more than an insurance company; we’re a community of entrepreneurial specialists united by trust, collaboration, and a shared mission to deliver innovative solutions with speed, clarity, and care for our broker partners”
Spokesperson, SPG Canada
Ivan Verescuk
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
Shaun O’Brien
Head of Underwriting
Emily Walker
Head of Strata and Development
Rex Oakman
Head of Operations and Risk
Sandy Newton
Head of Underwriting
Andrew Mitchell
Manager – NSW
Michael Prokopis
Manager – Southern Region
Pam Chhabra
Manager – Residential Strata
Jeffrey Valdivia
Manager – Commercial Strata
Adam Basaldella
Manager – Claims
Westchester, A Chubb Company, is one of the largest and most diverse excess and surplus lines, commercial property and casualty insurance carriers in the United States. Focused on the wholesale distribution channel, Westchester provides innovative specialty products across three practice towers (property, casualty, and financial lines), delivering both admitted and non-admitted products across digital, middle market, brokerage, and program segments.
The organization builds its business on the principles of collaboration, adaptability, innovation, and dedication, offering the complete “wholesale solution”. By engaging with its broker partners, Westchester aims to create more effective solutions to address the needs of its insureds.
The financial lines practice is no different. Known for its technical knowledge, claims handling, and underwriting expertise, Westchester Financial Lines offers innovative and competitive professional, cyber, and management liability solutions.
Westchester’s professional liability practice offers standard, niche, and competitive solutions with core errors and omissions products designed for companies in a wide array of professions and industries, ranging from professional service firms, media organizations, public entities, educational institutions, technology firms, and corporate employed counsel.
“We craft creative and unique policy structures and coverages for risks of all sizes and industries. Each policy is specifically customized for individual policyholders based on their exposures and coverage requirements. Policies can be offered on a portfolio basis to address E&O, technology, and cyber risks with separate or shared limits of liability across coverage sections,” noted Michael Kramer, head of Westchester's professional and cyber liability practice.
From consultants, trustees, printers to staffing firms, special authority districts, municipalities, school districts, to advertising agencies, publishers, radio stations, and technology companies, these firms are constantly at risk of being sued over the services they perform or the information they disseminate. Even if the lawsuit is without merit, defense and the impact on a firm’s reputation can be costly.
Westchester provides capabilities to manage both standard and preferred risks, as well as highly customized solutions for more complex and true excess and surplus lines professional liability placements in the wholesale marketplace.
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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Diversity, equity and inclusion
Innovation
Reputation
Sustainable programs
Overall
Leaders have guided the transformation with transparency and consistency, from company-wide town halls and Q&A sessions to touchpoints that keep employees informed and valued. Recognition programs such as the annual turkey bonus, milestone tenure bonus, and birthdays off celebrate contributions both large and small, reinforcing a sense of shared purpose across the business.
The leadership team, headed by president and chief executive officer Cameron Copeland, has emphasized connection and empowerment. Chief operating officer Johann Schneider leads systems integration and transformation; president of P&C operations Paul Meinschenk oversees the alignment of underwriting brands; chief people and culture officer Christy Knowles champions engagement and development; and chief sales and marketing officer Denise Russell focuses on client experience and business growth. Together, they have built a leadership culture grounded in visibility, accountability, and trust.
Internally, the unification strategy has been a catalyst for innovation and collaboration. Shared systems and consistent service standards have strengthened operational efficiency while creating room for employees to develop their expertise.
Structured programs such as JumpStart, RAISE, and the advanced development course support learning at every career stage, complemented by external platforms such as Cornerstone and ILS.
The company’s performance philosophy goes beyond compensation. Total rewards are tied to impact, with recognition programs that highlight collaboration and contribution across all levels. From peer appreciation channels to education bonuses, employees are rewarded for both performance and teamwork.
SPG Canada’s commitment to inclusion runs deep. Diversity and equity are woven into everyday decisions rather than treated as a standalone initiative. Employee groups such as HYPE (Helping Young Professionals Excel), multicultural celebrations, and support for neurodiversity create an environment where everyone feels seen and heard.
As the company continues to evolve under a unified identity, it remains grounded in the belief that people power performance.
“We are powered by a culture that rewards collaboration, inclusivity, and innovation,” a company spokesperson adds. “Underwriters are encouraged to think creatively, act decisively, and take pride in solving complex risks.”
That combination of purpose and agility has made SPG Canada more than an Insurance Business Canada-recognized Top Insurance Employer for 2025. It has become a community of specialists working toward a shared vision, one where momentum, trust, and opportunity move in the same direction.