Headquarters:
1350 Broadway, Suite 1400, New York, NY 10018
Year founded:
2016
Number of employees:
1,400
Phone:
972 402 6669
Email:
info@jencapgroup.com
Website:
jencapgroup.com
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/jencap
“We believe that diversity fosters innovation, and by creating an inclusive and empowering environment for every employee, we can achieve optimal outcomes”
Maria Hurley,
Jencap
Mark Maher
President
David Nielsen
Chief Financial Officer
John LaCava
Chief Operating Officer
Leadership
Mark Maher is the president of Jencap Group. Under his leadership, he works with the Jencap management team to develop strategic plans, drive overall growth initiatives, manage carrier and broker relationships, and work with affiliate company leaders to achieve an effective cross-selling practice.
Most recently, he was chief operating officer of Jencap and president of its NIF Group division, a managing general agency and wholesale insurance brokerage where he served for over 30 years.
Maher began his insurance career in 1981 as a property facultative broker at Willcox Baringer, a subsidiary of Johnson and Higgins. Other roles he has held throughout his insurance industry tenure include property facultative underwriter at Kaler Carney and Liffler; underwriting manager for Allstate Insurance Company; assistant vice president at Delany Management for both facultative and treaty reinsurance, on and off the New York Insurance Exchange; and assistant vice president at Danmar Associates.
President
Mark Maher
Dave Nielsen is the CFO of Jencap. Prior to this role, he was the CFO and a founding partner of Asset Growth Partners LLC, a boutique asset manager. Nielsen held the position of CFO at Community One Bancorp, a publicly traded Carlyle Group-owned troubled small community bank acquisition platform, where he also led the company’s financial restructuring and acquisition activities.
His entire 30+ year career has been spent in the financial services industry, including as chief operating officer of Wells Fargo/Wachovia’s Global Markets & Investment Bank, where he managed the operating infrastructure and also led the integration of Wachovia’s wholesale businesses into Wells Fargo.
Nielsen began his career in accounting and consulting at KPMG. He has a unique mix of operating and financial experience at both large and small companies, deep operational and financial integration knowledge, and significant private equity experience.
Chief Financial Officer
David Nielsen
John LaCava is the chief operating officer of Jencap.
He has been an insurance professional since 1985 and has extensive underwriting, operational and technical experience. His corporate strategic planning and organizational leadership were instrumental in executing several agency acquisitions to grow Jencap Program Administrators’ product portfolio.
Prior to co-founding Aran Insurance Services Group (now known as Jencap Program Administrators LLC), in 2009, he held various C-level positions, most recently as an executive vice president and director for QBE North America.
LaCava is active in his local community, supporting and coaching various local youth sports teams. His local charitable activities include raising over $2 million for St. Baldrick’s Foundation’s childhood cancer research efforts.
Chief Operating Officer
John LaCava
“We believe that diversity fosters innovation, and by creating an inclusive and empowering environment for every employee, we can achieve optimal outcomes”
Maria Hurley,
Jencap
Leadership
“We believe that diversity fosters innovation, and by creating an inclusive and empowering environment for every employee, we can achieve optimal outcomes”
Maria Hurley,
Jencap
Leadership
Harold Nam
Chief Financial Officer
Harold Nam joined Brown & Riding as a staff accountant in 2008. Since joining the firm, he has continued to ascend to positions of increased responsibility, and in 2021, he was named chief financial officer. He has seen the firm through many pivotal accounting transitions, including two significant M&A transactions, improvement of department alignment with the day-to-day needs of production staff, and has helped lead the finance and accounting department through unprecedented growth.
Nam has been instrumental in helping B&R grow from a regional specialty broker to the largest fully independent, owner-operated, national wholesale brokerage firm in the UN.
Chief Financial Officer
Harold Nam
Cristi Carrington
Chief Distribution Officer
Cristi Carrington has worked in the insurance industry for over 25 years and is the point person for Brown & Riding’s carrier relationships. She manages the underwriting division and has developed many specialized programs for the company during her tenure, including a Habitational program, DIC, MPL, All Risk, including Wind & Earthquake, and a nationwide risk purchasing group for a top 40 nationally ranked retailer.
Carrington works on several committees and industry associations. She currently serves on WSIA’s Board of Directors as the PAC committee co-chair and is vice president of the Surplus Line Association of Washington Board of Directors.
Chief Distribution Officer
Cristi Carrington
Jencap is one of the largest wholesale insurance intermediaries in the country, with expertise in wholesale brokerage, binding authority, and program management. Their specialized divisions and affiliate companies offer niche expertise, unparalleled market access, and nationwide influence.
The firm’s collaborative approach to doing business, high ethical standards and specialized expertise sets them apart from their competitors and has been a catalyst for their rapid growth trajectory. The internal collaboration among Jencap team members is unmatched in the insurance industry and yields the best possible insurance solution for their agency partners.
Jencap is committed to delivering compensation practices that are fair, equitable, and align with the company’s overall strategic objectives. They have a total reward philosophy and competitively structure compensation based on roles by encompassing base pay, bonuses, and benefits.
They are also committed to prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives and hiring practices. Fostering an inclusive work environment where every person feels welcomed, valued, respected, and heard is a top priority.
Maria Hurley, Jencap CHRO, says, “We believe that diversity fosters innovation, and by creating an inclusive and empowering environment for every employee, we can achieve optimal outcomes. The more diverse ideas, perspectives, and experiences we collectively have, the more our people and our company thrive.”
Jencap is also committed to the ongoing training, development, and education of its team members. Employees are encouraged to enhance their skills through various avenues, which include:
Christopher Welty, PHR, SHRM-CP
Chief Human Resources Officer
Andrew Grim
Executive Director of Specialty, National Casualty Practice Leader
Nealy Farshadi
Principal, Strategic Client Relations
Simon Williams
Chief Strategy & Distribution Officer, Arch Insurance International
and Active Underwriter, Syndicate 1955
Christopher Welty joined Brown & Riding in 2007 as an HR assistant and swiftly advanced within the company. His dedication and talent led to a series of promotions, culminating in his appointment as the firm’s CHRO in 2019.
During his tenure, Welty has seen B&R more than quadruple in growth. He helped successfully integrate the company through two mergers and has been a strong advocate for many of the company’s important benefit plan enhancements. He excels at collaboration and has been a key contributor in establishing and promoting the company’s culture and offering programs and opportunities to help employees.
Chief Human Resources Officer
Christopher Welty, PHR, SHRM-CP
Andrew Grim is Brown & Riding’s executive director of specialty and works with the Executive Leadership Team and Practice Group Leaders to promote marketing uniformity, streamline recruiting efforts, and manage specialty formation and development. He is also tasked with spearheading innovative strategies for the firm’s industry and specialty practice areas.
Grim also serves as B&R’s National Casualty Practice Leader, a position he has held since 2021, overseeing the practice group’s continued growth and marketplace reputation. He has been a member of WSIA’s Membership & Ethics Committee since 2018 and is also an IICF Southeast Division Board Member.
Executive Director of Specialty, National Casualty Practice Leader
Andrew Grim
Nealy Farshadi is instrumental in helping strengthen and grow Brown & Riding’s client relationships. She maintains and improves quality procedures, oversees B&R’s ISO certification, and manages the firm’s client feedback program. Her contributions enable the executive management team to act on client input effectively. As a result, B&R’s client feedback scores greatly exceed the average and continue to improve each year.
Farshadi also supports and furthers the growth of B&R and its employees by contributing to professional development within the organization and being a resource to staff.
Principal, Strategic Client Relations
Nealy Farshadi
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
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
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Medal
Small business
Brokers’ Pick – Professional liability
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
Brokers’ Pick – Professional liability
Small business
Medal
Overall service level
Broker communication, training and development
BDM support
Turnaround time – claims
Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance
Brokers’ Pick – Professional liability
Small business
“Our staff is wholly committed to achieving greatness in all that they do and exceeding the expectations of our agency partners”
Mark Maher,
Jencap
“Our staff is wholly committed to achieving greatness in all that they do and exceeding the expectations of our agency partners”
Mark Maher,
Jencap
“Our staff is wholly committed to achieving greatness in all that they do and exceeding the expectations of our agency partners”
Mark Maher,
Jencap
property and casualty
employee benefits
personal risk
program and retirement
There is also an ongoing commitment to ensure all team members remain engaged.
“This includes offering developmental opportunities, rewarding and recognizing key accomplishments and top performance, and continually investing in technology to equip our people with the best tools for their roles,” explains Hurley.
Driving Jencap’s culture of collaboration and innovation is the firm’s leadership group, helmed by President Mark Maher.
Mark Maher, president of Jencap comments, “Our staff is wholly committed to achieving greatness in all that they do and exceeding the expectations of our agency partners.”
Despite growing rapidly as a firm through acquisitions, there continues to be a strong desire to build something together, a nod to Jencap’s tagline “Better Together”.
“The common thread woven through our company’s success is our people,” adds Mark Maher. “The team is united in a common mission to be exceptional at everything we do, while supporting one another along the way.”
86 percent participation rate among staff
98 percent are proud to work at Jencap and enjoy the work they do
“We monitor their progress and evaluate their skills through talent assessments and development programs, enabling us to customize training to meet the specific developmental wants and needs of our staff,” adds Maria Hurley.
Jencap is focused on attracting, retaining, and developing diverse talent. This is evidenced by the firm’s 2023 employment engagement survey that they conducted.
The data showed:
“It’s our willingness to consider unique circumstances and offer innovative solutions where other carriers may not,” says Christine Schneider, senior vice president, casualty claims. “Also, strategically executing on opportunities based on market conditions has continuously supported Arch’s growth.”
Leadership encourages all segments of the business to be bold, take calculated risks, celebrate accomplishments, and learn from mistakes. The focus is placed on the goals of each initiative, along with the necessary specific strategies.
A key factor in Arch’s success has been the implementation of a new claims system that interlinks with the firm’s ‘North Star’ of placing employees in a position where they can add value on a daily basis.
Senior vice president, financial and specialty claims Brian Kristiansen says, “We segment claims by line of business and hire employees with experience in those lines. We provide them with additional training and mentoring to ensure the continued development of expertise in those lines.”
Another driver of Arch’s market-leading performance is its investment in data analytics and data transformation, increasing its ability to utilize business intelligence to improve product offerings and the abilities of its claims department, with a strong emphasis on claims handling and claims excellence.
In addition, the firm continuously seeks feedback from the broker community on any areas where they would like to see potential improvement, particularly in claims service. Arch Claims specifically has done considerable work around communication with brokers over the past year, including an extensive survey to solicit feedback on the claims experience.
Schneider says, “Through their commentary, we strive to be able to build even more trusting, respectful, and responsive relationships with all of our partners.”
The claims department underscores the importance of:
access to an extensive online course library
complete continuing education requirements for CE credits necessary to maintain or obtain certifications, designations, and/or licenses
participation in the Jencap Educational Enrichment Program (J.E.E.P.), which offers specialized insurance training courses
Jencap is one of the largest wholesale insurance intermediaries in the country, with expertise in wholesale brokerage, binding authority, and program management. Their specialized divisions and affiliate companies offer niche expertise, unparalleled market access, and nationwide influence.
The firm’s collaborative approach to doing business, high ethical standards and specialized expertise sets them apart from their competitors and has been a catalyst for their rapid growth trajectory. The internal collaboration among Jencap team members is unmatched in the insurance industry and yields the best possible insurance solution for their agency partners.
Jencap is committed to delivering compensation practices that are fair, equitable, and align with the company’s overall strategic objectives. They have a total reward philosophy and competitively structure compensation based on roles by encompassing base pay, bonuses, and benefits.
They are also committed to prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives and hiring practices. Fostering an inclusive work environment where every person feels welcomed, valued, respected, and heard is a top priority.
Maria Hurley, Jencap CHRO, says, “We believe that diversity fosters innovation, and by creating an inclusive and empowering environment for every employee, we can achieve optimal outcomes. The more diverse ideas, perspectives, and experiences we collectively have, the more our people and our company thrive.”
Jencap is also committed to the ongoing training, development, and education of its team members. Employees are encouraged to enhance their skills through various avenues, which include:
There is also an ongoing commitment to ensure all team members remain engaged.
“This includes offering developmental opportunities, rewarding and recognizing key accomplishments and top performance, and continually investing in technology to equip our people with the best tools for their roles,” explains Hurley.
Driving Jencap’s culture of collaboration and innovation is the firm’s leadership group, helmed by President Mark Maher.
Mark Maher, president of Jencap comments, “Our staff is wholly committed to achieving greatness in all that they do and exceeding the expectations of our agency partners.”
Despite growing rapidly as a firm through acquisitions, there continues to be a strong desire to build something together, a nod to Jencap’s tagline “Better Together”.
“The common thread woven through our company’s success is our people,” adds Mark Maher. “The team is united in a common mission to be exceptional at everything we do, while supporting one another along the way.”
86 percent participation rate among staff
98 percent are proud to work at Jencap and enjoy the work they do
“We monitor their progress and evaluate their skills through talent assessments and development programs, enabling us to customize training to meet the specific developmental wants and needs of our staff,” adds Maria Hurley.
Jencap is focused on attracting, retaining, and developing diverse talent. This is evidenced by the firm’s 2023 employment engagement survey that they conducted.
The data showed: