Counterpart, a management and professional liability insurtech, has announced the appointment of industry veteran, Jim Smith, as its Director of Digital Distribution.
With the hire of Smith, Counterpart – backed by Aspen, Markel, and Westfield Specialty – aims to expand the business API adoption and strengthen digital capabilities amidst new business development and underwriting hires nationally.
The executive brings more than two decades of experience in C-level enterprise sales, relationship management, growth, API technology market research, operations, and extensive SaaS experience.
Prior to Counterpart, Smith served as VP of Strategy and Partnerships at Relay Platform, where he worked closely with wholesale brokers and retail agents.
Before this, he spent over three years at Bold Penguin as the Head of Strategic Partnerships. Smith also spent six years at Hiscox as Senior Partnership Manager, where he drove the strategy and success of their digital product through unique partnerships with insurtechs, MGAs, and national carriers.
Smith said: “Counterpart is leading the way in insurance. Joining this team means being part of something transformative. We’re not just improving how we work with clients—we’re rethinking it entirely, using new approaches and technology to provide real value.
“It’s an opportunity to change the way we connect with clients, and offer exceptional service. Together, we’ll not only adapt to the industry’s changes but also set new expectations for what’s possible in insurance.”
In the past few months, Counterpart has substantially increased its hiring across all key insurance functions, acknowledging the rapidly growing demand for its exceptional management liability products and services among brokers and carriers.
In addition to its recent product hires and promotions, the company has significantly strengthened its underwriting and business development teams by welcoming Ben Dubash as Senior Business Development Manager, Vanessa Lujan as Senior Production Risk Engineer, Taylor Schultz as Production Risk Engineer, and Dominick Liberty as Production Risk Engineer.
Kevin Merchant, Senior Vice President at Wholesure, commented: “Counterpart has been one of our top markets for management and professional liability. Their underwriters have been instrumental in helping us grow through their expertise and support. Looking ahead, we’re excited to see how their focus on digital submissions will further strengthen our partnership and drive continued success.”
