Profile
“We keep evolving the brand as we grow and expand, which is equally rewarding and satisfying”
Alice Phillips Topping
Ryan Specialty
“I knew I wanted to be a lawyer; I did not know I would end up in surety and in the insurance industry,” says Chris Alexander.
Earning her Juris Doctorate from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 1992, Alexander did not plan for a career in insurance.
“A law school classmate was working in surety claims at USF&G and recommended me for the job. Surety claims was love at first sight for me. Since joining the industry, I have always wanted to build my own team and run my own department.”
As senior vice president (SVP) of surety claims at Arch Insurance, Alexander leads Arch’s Surety Claims team handling all aspects of contract and commercial surety bond claims, subcontractor default insurance claims, and risk mitigation support. As an industry leader, Alexander prides herself on her honesty, communication, and organizational abilities. Considering her breadth of experience, the SVP maintains a sense of intellectual curiosity.
“I am a lifelong learner and I never think I am the smartest person in the room or that I know all the answers. I constantly seek out the thoughts and input of others. That has helped me build a strong network of peers and an even stronger team. I want to build a succession plan and leave the industry and my group better than I found it,” she says.
For Alexander, part of this involves being an active participant in diversifying the composition of the surety claim industry.
“When I joined the surety industry, the vast majority of colleagues and people I encountered within and outside the company space were men and most of those men were white. I have actively participated in changing this by pursuing a more diverse and inclusive slate of candidates to the industry, for my team, and for my leadership team, and supporting the career trajectory of those diverse candidates.”
Recounting her own experiences with sexism in the industry, Alexander shares, “I have found there was a tendency, particularly when I was younger, for others to discount my knowledge and not give me a place at the table. I was often the only one in the room who was a woman and I had to prove myself when others did not have to do so.”
Speaking on the industry’s future, Alexander hopes to see more women pursue careers in construction, insurance, claims, and underwriting, emphasizing the importance of visibility and role models.
“It is hard for others to see themselves in a position of leadership if no one else in leadership looks like them. I stand on the shoulders of all the women who started blazing the trail and I am thankful for all the allies who assisted along the way.”
Three Parkway, 1601 Cherry Street, Suite 1500, Philadelphia, PA 19102
312 635 5976
calexander@archinsurance.com
linkedin.com/in/chris-alexander-a7422948
insurance.archgroup.com
Chris Alexander
Senior Vice President, Surety Claims
Arch Insurance
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Milestones
“It’s very important to set an example and to not only inspire but mentor other females”
Alice Phillips Topping
Ryan Specialty
1993–1996
1996
2010
2013–2015
2022
Private practice in commercial litigation (Baltimore, MD)
1993–
1996
Joined the Surety industry working for USF&G, continuing through St. Paul and Travelers’s acquisitions (Baltimore, MD)
1996
Promoted to Senior Surety Counsel at Travelers (Philadelphia, PA)
2010
2013: Promoted to Managing Claim Counsel at Travelers (Philadelphia, PA)
2015: Promoted to Managing Director at Travelers (Philadelphia, PA)
2013–
2015
Joined Arch Insurance as Senior Vice President, Surety Claims (Philadelphia, PA)
Past President and Board Member, Philadelphia Surety Claims Association; Board of Directors, Surety Claims Institute; Surety and Fidelity Association of America Committees: Corporate Counsel Advisory and Surety Claims Advisory; American Bar Association, Torts and Insurance Practice Section, Law Division Committees Underwriting and Risk Management; American Bar Association, Fidelity and Surety Law General Committee, Vice Chair; Member of the Bar: Maryland, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania In-House Corporate Counsel
2022
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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