Cyber & Professional Lines Group (CPLG), part of the Tokio Marine HCC group of companies and headquartered in Houston, Texas, has appointed Brian Alva as Senior Vice President of Underwriting, where he will take responsibility for the group’s cyber and technology underwriting.
The appointment is intended to further strengthen its cyber leadership team as the business continues to pursue disciplined and profitable growth, while developing solutions aimed at addressing the changing nature of cyber risk.
Alva joins CPLG with more than 15 years’ experience across cyber and professional liability insurance. His background includes senior positions covering underwriting, portfolio management, product development and distribution. Most recently, he was Vice President, Specialty Cyber at Travelers, having previously held leadership positions with Corvus Insurance and NAS Insurance Services.
During his career, Alva has been involved in establishing and managing underwriting teams, overseeing complex cyber portfolios and supporting growth strategies within a market facing increasingly complex risks.
As part of his new role, Alva will oversee efforts to further develop CPLG’s cyber underwriting operation. His responsibilities will include supporting underwriting talent, progressing portfolio and product strategy and strengthening collaboration between the business’s underwriting, claims, actuarial, data science, risk services and distribution functions.
The appointment also brings Alva back to a business with which he has an established history. He spent almost nine years at NAS Insurance Services, which is now part of Tokio Marine HCC. During that period, he worked on the expansion of its cyber and professional liability operations and contributed to the development of its underwriting capabilities across the US.
Michael Palotay, Chief Executive Officer of CPLG, commented: “Brian’s combination of deep technical underwriting expertise, cyber market perspective and proven leadership makes him an exceptional addition to CPLG.”
Palotay added: “He understands that the future of cyber insurance requires more than strong risk selection. It requires bringing together underwriting, claims, data, technology, risk services and distribution to deliver better outcomes for our brokers and policyholders. We are excited to have Brian help shape the next chapter of CPLG’s cyber business.”
Alva said: “Cyber risk continues to evolve at extraordinary speed, and the opportunity for CPLG is to combine underwriting excellence with the data, technology and services needed to stay ahead of that change.”
He continued: “I am excited to join CPLG and return to an organisation I know well, working alongside a strong team to build on its deep specialty expertise, strengthen broker relationships and deliver thoughtful, sustainable solutions for cyber risk.”
Alva’s experience also includes working with both retail and wholesale brokers, giving him a background in developing long-term relationships across the distribution network. The company said his underwriting approach brings together professional judgement, data and claims insight, with a focus on supporting informed decisions for brokers, clients and the wider portfolio.
According to CPLG, the appointment forms part of its wider investment in cyber expertise and leadership. The company said strengthening its capabilities in this area will remain important as cyber exposures and the requirements of organisations seeking insurance continue to develop.
