Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, the commercial insurance division of reinsurance giant Swiss Re, has announced three leadership appointments within its Financial & Professional Services (FinPro) underwriting team, effective immediately.
The company has announced the promotions of Laura Coppola as Global Head FinPro; Kristyn Smallcombe as Global Head Construction PI & GL; and Paul Rodriguez as Global Head Executive Risks.
Swiss Re CorSo notes that these appointments are a sign of its commitment to grow its FinPro business and provide bespoke solutions and an outstanding experience to its customers. Furthermore, the fact all three appointments come from within the firm, highlights the strength of Swiss Re CorSo’s talent pipeline.
Coppola joined Swiss Re CorSo in January 2020 as Head Casualty and FinPro North America, and has now been appointed Global Head FinPro in addition to her current role.
She will now be responsible for driving the firm’s growth in this business line, with oversight of a team of business leaders, underwriters and product managers, as well as developing the company’s FinPro underwriting strategy on a global basis.
Coppola brings 25 years of experience to the role, and has held numerous leadership positions of increasing responsibility in the sector. In her new role, she will continue to be based in New York.
Smallcombe takes on her new role as Global Head Construction Professional Indemnity and General Liability (PI & GL) in addition to her existing role as Head Construction PI & GL North America, which she has served in since 2018. In her new role, she will be responsible for developing the company’s Construction PI & GL underwriting approach.
Prior to Swiss Re, Smallcombe held a number of different leadership roles, product line management and senior underwriting positions at a large corporate insurance company. In her new position, she will report to Coppola, and will continue to be based in Chicago.
Currently serving as Head Executive Risks North America, Rodriguez now assumes the additional responsibilities as Global Head Executive Risks. In this role, he takes on responsibility for both leading and managing all aspects of the company’s Executive Risks product line, including D&O Liability, Employment Practices Liability, and Fiduciary Liability solutions.
Prior to joining Swiss Re back in 2011, he held management and underwriting roles with other commercial insurance firms. In his new role at Swiss Re CorSo, he will report to Coppola and will continue to be based in New York.
Kera McDonald, Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) Bespoke at Swiss Re CorSo, said: “Laura, Kristyn and Paul are highly accomplished leaders with proven track records of delivering results – both throughout their careers and for our North America operations.
“We are very fortunate to have so many talented colleagues ready to take on new opportunities and grow as leaders. Laura, Kristyn and Paul will no doubt work extremely effectively together to support our customers, oversee the profitable growth of our FinPro business and advance corporate insurance together.”
