Ascot, a global specialty insurance and reinsurance group, has announced the appointment of Kristyn Smallcombe as Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO), Ascot U.S.
In her new role, Smallcombe will be responsible for shaping and executing Ascot’s U.S. underwriting strategy, focusing on profitability, growth, and diversification across the insurance platform.
She will report to Matt Kramer, CEO of Ascot U.S., and partner closely with the U.S. leadership team to support disciplined risk and portfolio management, as well as operational excellence.
Smallcombe brings more than 20 years of industry experience. She joins Ascot from CRC Group, where she spent the past three years as National Casualty Director for the company’s Commercial Solutions division, providing strategic direction and technical support to casualty brokers nationwide.
Prior to that, she served as Senior Vice President, Head of Construction at Argo Group, and also held senior leadership roles at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions and AIG.
Kramer commented, “Kristyn is known for driving underwriting excellence, building strong broker and client partnerships, and leading teams through profitable portfolio growth. She brings deep specialty expertise, a proven track record of disciplined underwriting leadership, and a collaborative approach that aligns well with Ascot’s culture. As we continue to scale our U.S. platform, Kristyn will play a critical role in advancing our underwriting strategy and delivering sustainable success.”
