Profile
Nicole O’Brien is executive vice president and regional leader for the Northeast Region at Amwins Access. Since joining the firm in 2021, she has led operations for Amwins Access, the company’s nationwide binding platform for small P&C businesses. With 37 years of industry experience, O’Brien drives strategic growth across E&S binding and brokerage authority in commercial lines, personal lines, garage, and admitted placement services, while cultivating the strong retailer and carrier relationships that have defined her career. She is also a passionate advocate for the next generation of insurance professionals, frequently mentoring emerging talent as they navigate the complexities of the E&S market.
An entrepreneur and business builder at heart, O’Brien previously served as chief business development officer for Great Bay Insurance Company while also launching and leading her own MGA, Coastal Risk Solutions, in 2017. Her leadership experience spans several key organizations, including Orchid Insurance, Coastal Agents Alliance, Plymouth Rock, and Prudential.
O’Brien holds a BS in management science from Kean University. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her husband and three children, whom she credits as her greatest motivation. Grounded in integrity and a strong sense of community, she is committed to delivering exceptional results for her retail clients and carrier partners.
4725 Piedmont Row Dr, Charlotte, NC 28210
704 944 6598
Nicole.Obrien@amwins.com
linkedin.com/in/nicole-o-brien-957b3713
amwins.com
Nicole O’Brien
Executive Vice President and Regional Leader (Northeast)
Amwins
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Profile
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Bio
Milestones
2006–2007
2007–2017
2017–2021
2020–2021
Present
Marketing at High Point Insurance
2006–2007
Senior Vice President, Sales and Operations at Orchid Underwriters
2007–2017
President at Coastal Risk Solutions
Launched and operated a successful MGA
2017–2021
Chief Business Development Officer at Great Bay Insurance Group
2020–2021
Executive Vice President and Regional Leader (Northeast) at Amwins since 2021
Present
Milestones
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
She continually assesses strategy, aligning talent, technology, and capital with Fortegra’s future vision. By helping people understand the value of their work, Taylor drives engagement and fosters a culture where everyone sees themselves as a builder of the company’s future.
With respect to her impact at Fortegra, she adds, “I enjoy taking on operational challenges that enable our underwriting, actuarial, and finance professionals to focus on their core priorities, ultimately delivering meaningful value to Fortegra's partners and stakeholders.”
Three themes anchor her approach to both role and career:
commitment to continuous learning
focus on serving the enterprise and adding tangible value
alignment with companies whose values mirror her own
Recognized by Insurance Business as an Elite Woman 2026, Taylor is aware of the importance of visibility and representation. In a sector where senior female role models remain limited, she has chosen to see barriers as an invitation to chart her own course.
Through mentorship, active participation in networks of women C-suite leaders, and initiatives like Fortegra’s Network of Women (N.O.W.) program, she is helping build clearer pathways, stronger support systems, and broader possibilities for the next generation.
“If my experience can help someone navigate their path with more confidence or clarity, then recognition like this becomes much more meaningful,” she says. “My goal is to help create a cycle where every generation of leaders lifts the next one higher.”
“My goal is to help create a cycle where every generation of leaders lifts the next one higher”
Abbie Taylor,
Fortegra
“This type of work energizes me because, like many of us at Fortegra, I’m a business builder at heart”
Abbie Taylor,
Fortegra