Headquarters:
Burbank, CA
Year founded:
1986
Number of employees:
110
Phone:
(818) 249 0100
Email:
receptionist@monarchexcess.com
Website:
monarchexcess.com
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/2609802
“Our firm’s outstanding performance is a result of their positive communications with our people, superb carrier relationships and proactive management style”
Derek Borisoff,
Monarch E&S Insurance Services
Monarch E&S Insurance Services
Derek Borisoff
Chief Executive Officer
Yiana Stavrakis
President
Devon Borisoff
Vice President and Commercial Lines Leader
Leadership
Derek Borisoff serves as CEO of Monarch E&S. He joined the firm over 25 years ago. He held various positions with increasing authority throughout his career, starting his senior year at the University of Southern California (USC) as a NAPSLO intern.
Borisoff spent the next decade working for an E&S firm, eventually owning part of the operation. By age 33, he took the helm of Los Angeles-based Monarch E&S Insurance Services and became its owner seven years later.
As CEO of Monarch, Borisoff operates more as a coach than a CEO, something he knows well from his years competing in college sports and coaching water polo. His overall business philosophy is that success comes from supporting the people who support your business.
Borisoff is an active sponsor of Young Brokers and Agents events such as the Young Agents Conference, I-Days and other events organized by independent agent associations.
Borisoff has been married for 33 years to his wife, Kristi. They raised three sons, all of whom won multiple national championships in water polo at USC. All three sons are employed within the insurance industry.
In 2017, Monarch partnered with Specialty Program Group. Borisoff’s role transformed to include strategic M&A and the national expansion of Monarch.
Chief Executive Officer
Derek Borisoff
Yiana Stavrakis serves as president of Monarch E&S. She joined the firm in 2020. She is a significant contributor to the company’s national expansion and is instrumental to the ongoing growth and strategy of Monarch.
Prior to joining Monarch, Stavrakis was chief sales officer for the Specialty Program Group, providing strategic sales and marketing guidance to acquired business partners. She began her insurance career with Metro Insurance Services, a real estate MGU, and steadily rose in both position and authority as she mastered underwriting and claims management.
In 2012, Stavrakis joined Preferred Concepts as part of the Metro acquisition, providing operational support to the unit’s underwriting teams and carrier partners. Following Preferred Concepts, she joined the wholesale brokerage world via Amwins, where she developed strategic retailer and carrier relationships.
Stavrakis graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers Business School with a major in business management and a concentration in management information systems. She is a licensed property, casualty and surplus lines insurance professional and holds both the ASLI and CPCU designations.
Stavrakis is an IBANY board member and the co-founder and past president of NAPSLO’s Next Generation. In 2010, she received the NAPSLO Past President’s Award for outstanding committee work. In 2013, she received the Steven R. Gross Under 40 Award. She also received IBANY’s First Emerging Leader Award in 2015.
Stavrakis has most recently been named one of Insurance Business America’s Hot 100 and 100 Women to Watch and was a finalist for Insurance Business America’s Woman of Distinction Award.
President
Yiana Stavrakis
A third-generation insurance professional, Devon Borisoff joined the industry in 2011 after graduating from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. Since joining the business, he has worked as a marketing representative for USLI, spent over a year as a North American property broker at Lloyds of London, and interned for over two years with various carriers in Scottsdale, AZ.
Borisoff joined Monarch E&S in 2017 as a senior underwriter specializing in both binding and brokerage business, while also acting as their VP of carrier relations. Recently, he has taken over as VP and commercial lines leader for Monarch.
Vice President and Commercial Lines Leader
Devon Borisoff
“Our firm’s outstanding performance is a result of their positive communications with our people, superb carrier relationships and proactive management style”
Derek Borisoff,
Monarch E&S Insurance Services
“We aim to work on every deal, regardless of size, as if it were our personal account and provide our retail brokers with problem-solving competencies to handle hard-to-place risks”
Yiana Stavrakis, Monarch E&S Insurance Services
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“We aim to work on every deal, regardless of size, as if it were our personal account and provide our retail brokers with problem-solving competencies to handle hard-to-place risks”
Yiana Stavrakis,
Monarch E&S Insurance Services
“Our firm’s outstanding performance is a result of their positive communications with our people, superb carrier relationships and proactive management style”
Derek Borisoff,
Monarch E&S Insurance Services
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Stefanie McLeod
Vice President and Personal Lines Leader
Stefanie McLeod serves as the personal lines leader of Monarch E&S. She joined the firm in 2002, beginning her career as the receptionist and working her way through underwriting to the position she is in today.
Over the past 20 years, McLeod has been successful in growing a large book of personal lines business while also helping to expand Monarch’s personal lines products and regions. She has been a member of the IBA-BGP since 2008 and understands the importance of supporting the company’s retail agents.
Personal Lines Leader
Stefanie McLeod
Brandon Wiener
Partner, Member of the Management Committee
Brandon Wiener’s practice focuses on personal, corporate and trust planning for high-net-worth individuals, professionals, executives, owner-managers and their businesses, both domestic and international, including corporate reorganizations, structuring of investments and businesses including professional incorporations, purchases and sales of businesses and real estate, estate planning, immigration and emigration, and non-profit organizations and charities including private foundations. He also advises investment funds and their managers and advisors in connection with structuring and other fund-related tax issues.
Prior to joining Thorsteinssons LLP in 2010, Wiener worked in the litigation and tax departments of the Montreal office of a large national law firm. He also worked as a law clerk for the Honourable Mr. Justice Michel Bastarache at the Supreme Court of Canada. Having a strong background in tax litigation, Wiener also assists and represents clients in their dealings with the taxation authorities in the context of an audit or assessment or voluntary disclosure.
Partner, Member of the Management Committee
Brandon Wiener
Monarch E&S Insurance Services was established in 1986 in Burbank, CA, and is built on the principle of providing unmatched services to its customers. The company’s motto, “You’ll get the royal treatment,” is meaningful to Monarch. The company has grown into a leading managing general agency and excess-and-surplus lines wholesale brokerage. Its geographic footprint expanded nationally with the creation of the Monarch Southeast and Monarch Northeast branches. In December 2021, Monarch acquired A&M, which now enables the provision of exclusive personal lines products.
“I am very proud of our young and dynamic leadership team,” says Derek Borisoff, chief executive officer of Monarch E&S.
“Stefanie McLeod, vice president of personal lines, and Devon Borisoff, vice president of commercial lines, are led by Yiana Stavrakis, our very capable president. All three are known standouts in our industry who lead by example in both work ethic and desire to solve problems. Our firm’s outstanding performance is a result of their positive communications with our people, superb carrier relationships and proactive management style,” he adds.
As a full-service MGA and wholesale brokerage, Monarch gives retail insurance brokers access to many different lines of business through its commercial, personal lines, professional lines, earthquake and flood departments.
“Our team has successfully executed on an aggressive acquisition and integration plan over the last few years, which has contributed greatly to our strong market position”
Yiana Stavrakis,
Monarch E&S Insurance Services
Kin Lee-Yow
Chief Information Officer
Catherine Sieniewicz
AVP of Travel and Retail
Rhonda English
Chief Marketing Officer
Evelyn Peng
Chief Risk Officer
Kin Lee-Yow’s combination of banking, payment, retail, e-commerce, and insurance technology experience has enabled him to contribute to the success and leadership positions in three large organizations in Canada, culminating in his current role as the CIO of CM Club Group. Kin is a graduate of Computer Science and Information Systems from the University of Waterloo. He also holds a Kellogg-Schulich master’s degree in Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business at York University and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional.
Chief Information Officer
Kin Lee-Yow
With decades of experience, Catherine Sieniewicz has always been devoted to growing within the travel and retail industry. Catherine became director of retail and travel at CCG in May 2019. In February 2020, she was promoted to AVP of travel and retail where she continues to guide all her decisions by what she has learned in member, associate, and business experience.
AVP of Travel and Retail
Catherine Sieniewicz
Rhonda English is a CPA, CMA and obtained her Honors Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and her MBA from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario. Rhonda joined CM Club Group as vice president of insurance, then took the role of vice president corporate marketing, overseeing business insights & analytics and the acquisition and retention of the CM lines of business. In 2016, she was named chief marketing officer, taking on additional responsibility for travel and membership product, digital, and the government & community relations advocacy team.
Chief Marketing Officer
Rhonda English
Evelyn Peng started at CCG in 2017 as director of risk management and now serves as the chief risk officer for the organization. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology and a Master’s in Accounting from the University of Waterloo. She has extensive experience with enterprise risk management, specializing in operational risk management, and financial risk management. Evelyn is a Chartered Accountant and a Financial Risk Manager.
Chief Risk Officer
Evelyn Peng
Evelyn Peng started at CCG in 2017 as director of risk management and now serves as the chief risk officer for the organization. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology and a Master’s in Accounting from the University of Waterloo. She has extensive experience with enterprise risk management, specializing in operational risk management, and financial risk management. Evelyn is a Chartered Accountant and a Financial Risk Manager.
Chief Risk Officer
Evelyn Peng
Evelyn Peng started at CCG in 2017 as director of risk management and now serves as the chief risk officer for the organization. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology and a Master’s in Accounting from the University of Waterloo. She has extensive experience with enterprise risk management, specializing in operational risk management, and financial risk management. Evelyn is a Chartered Accountant and a Financial Risk Manager.
Chief Risk Officer
Evelyn Peng
Sarah M Stewart
Associate Vice President,
Leasing and Call Centre Operations
Karen Bannister, CM
Vice President, Marketing
Dave Longbottom
Chief Technology Officer
Alex Ventura
Head of Marketing
Damian Palovick
Senior Vice President of Underwriting
AXA XL – Delegated Authority Programs, North America
Dr. Mary Lavoie
Head of Risk Management and Senior Vice President
AXA XL – Delegated Authority Programs, North America
Mark Bernacki
Chief Underwriting Officer
Ryan Armijo
Chief Operating Officer, Underwriting Division
Bob Petrilli
President, Underwriting Division
“Despite the challenging claims environment, QBE’s coverage and risk appetite have remained consistent. Brokers and customers know and understand our risk appetite and the cover we offer, providing them with certainty for the future,” says Erica Kofie, head of cyber proposition. “We put our customers at the centre of our business, responding to brokers in a proactive and timely manner and working with the customer to understand their unique risk profile and tailor appropriate solutions.”
Kofie adds, “Through 2022, QBE successfully delivered significant growth in the cyber sector, reflecting the depth and strength of our team. We continue to see cyber as a key opportunity and will be further developing customer-centric solutions across various geographies and segments in line with our growth aspirations.”
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Earlene Huntley
Group Chief Financial Officer
Melissa Abramowitz
General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer
Melissa Abramowitz has been practicing corporate and commercial law for over 20 years, with an emphasis on the financial services industry. She joined CAA Club Group in 2014, and currently serves as the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer of CCG and its affiliated companies. At CCG, Melissa provides strategic legal advice on a broad range of matters including corporate governance, licensing, distribution, marketing and advertising, commercial contracts and regulatory compliance. She holds a Bachelor of Civil Law (B.CL) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from McGill University and a Certificate in Regulatory Compliance for Financial Institutions from Osgoode.
General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer
Melissa Abramowitz
Earlene Huntley joined CAA in 2014 as director, tax and was promoted to AVP, tax in 2016, and to her current role as group chief financial officer of CAA Club Group in February 2017. In her role, she is responsible for all aspects of finance. She is a graduate of the University of the West Indies where she earned her BSc. Accounting (Hons) and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in the United Kingdom.
Group Chief Financial Officer
Earlene Huntley
Simon Williams
Chief Strategy & Distribution Officer, Arch Insurance International
and Active Underwriter, Syndicate 1955
Simon Williams
Chief Strategy & Distribution Officer, Arch Insurance International
and Active Underwriter, Syndicate 1955
Earlene Huntley joined CAA in 2014 as director, tax and was promoted to AVP, tax in 2016, and to her current role as group chief financial officer of CAA Club Group in February 2017. In her role, she is responsible for all aspects of finance. She is a graduate of the University of the West Indies where she earned her BSc. Accounting (Hons) and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in the United Kingdom.
Group Chief Financial Officer
Earlene Huntley
Melissa Abramowitz has been practicing corporate and commercial law for over 20 years, with an emphasis on the financial services industry. She joined CAA Club Group in 2014, and currently serves as the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer of CCG and its affiliated companies. At CCG, Melissa provides strategic legal advice on a broad range of matters including corporate governance, licensing, distribution, marketing and advertising, commercial contracts and regulatory compliance. She holds a Bachelor of Civil Law (B.CL) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from McGill University and a Certificate in Regulatory Compliance for Financial Institutions from Osgoode.
General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer
Melissa Abramowitz
Melissa Abramowitz
General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer
Earlene Huntley
Group Chief Financial Officer
Earlene Huntley joined CAA in 2014 as director, tax and was promoted to AVP, tax in 2016, and to her current role as group chief financial officer of CAA Club Group in February 2017. In her role, she is responsible for all aspects of finance. She is a graduate of the University of the West Indies where she earned her BSc. Accounting (Hons) and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in the United Kingdom.
Group Chief Financial Officer
Earlene Huntley
Melissa Abramowitz has been practicing corporate and commercial law for over 20 years, with an emphasis on the financial services industry. She joined CAA Club Group in 2014, and currently serves as the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer of CCG and its affiliated companies. At CCG, Melissa provides strategic legal advice on a broad range of matters including corporate governance, licensing, distribution, marketing and advertising, commercial contracts and regulatory compliance. She holds a Bachelor of Civil Law (B.CL) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from McGill University and a Certificate in Regulatory Compliance for Financial Institutions from Osgoode.
General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer
Melissa Abramowitz
Management liability
Arch Insurance’s management liability team is dedicated to addressing the needs of our partners. Our underwriting approach is to recognize and address exposures particular to each insured and offer creative solutions for our customers including complex risk and hard-to-place industries.
Know more here: insurance.archgroup.com/north-america/canada/offering/management-liability
Cyber
Arch Insurance’s experienced underwriting team takes a forward-looking approach to writing network security, privacy and media liability for mid-to-large accounts.
Professional liability
Arch Insurance’s professional liability team is positioned to offer professional liability programs for financial service firms.
“Monarch E&S has the products, talent, expertise, and reputation to get deals done with our strategic partners and clients, which is essentially ‘table stakes,’” says Yiana Stavrakis, president at Monarch E&S.
“How do we go above and beyond? We aim to work on every deal, regardless of size, as if it were our personal account and provide our retail brokers with problem-solving competencies to handle hard-to-place risks. Most competitors do not provide the same level of service for smaller brokers and risks as they do for larger ones. Monarch thrives when it comes to providing solutions for small to mid-market risks,” she adds.
Furthermore, talent acquisition and retention are at the forefront of most business leaders’ minds during this unique time and pose a significant challenge. The insurance industry has been aware for years of a looming talent shortage caused by the Baby Boomer generation’s retirement and is now experiencing a war for talent.
“Monarch has been able to overcome this talent acquisition challenge by staying true to who we are, a family environment with national resources, which is something we will continue to encourage and promote,” says Stavrakis. “When working for a team like ours, you are not another cog in the wheel but have the opportunity to make your mark and grow with us as we build out Monarch 2.0.”
As far as retention is concerned, how does the company develop loyalty when interpersonal connectivity has been reduced or eliminated?
The answer is purpose and intention. Monarch has been able to host both virtual and outdoor events as well as contests throughout the year to promote connectivity and teamwork. The company also remains flexible in its work-from-home strategy, giving the team options when it comes to individual circumstances.
Monarch E&S Insurance Services is licensed in every state and is continuously finding ways to enhance its team, client and carrier partner experiences. Get ready for the royal treatment as Monarch 2.0 expands digitally.
Medal
Cannabis
Small business
Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance
Turnaround time – claims
BDM support
Broker communication, training and development
Overall service level
BDM support
BDM support
Medal
Overall service level
Broker communication, training and development
BDM support
Turnaround time – claims
Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance
Cannabis
Small business
Medal
Overall service level
Broker communication, training and development
BDM support
Turnaround time – claims
Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance
Cannabis
Small business