Chief Underwriting Officer

In this position…Primary responsibility for leading the strategic direction and operational management of the underwriting function. Additional responsibilities include driving underwriting excellence, including general underwriting policy and underwriting management best practices. This includes advancing underwriting profitability, governance, product and pricing strategies, adoption of new tools, data and analytics and empowering our underwriters to make informed underwriting decisions within that framework. As a leader within the organization, this individual will help shape the overall direction of the business, identify growth opportunities, innovate our product set, anticipate, and react to market trends, and drive profitability across the portfolio.While the primary product is Commercial Auto, the successful candidate should have experience operating across a wide range of insurance products and exposures including excess, property, casualty, liability, marine, and credit and financial lines. As such, the role requires strong core knowledge of North American insurance markets, including captive and independent, with a concentrated focus in commercial auto. Our approach to the market and portfolio of customers and products requires the ability to pivot from portfolio underwriting to individual account underwriting and back.Leadership and management responsibilities for the Commercial Auto team. The fundamental areas of engagement and responsibility are:Overall Underwriting LeadershipManage Ford Pro Insure’s overall commercial auto underwriting function including production, guidelines, reinsurance utilization, loss results, referrals, and renewalsSet, manage and achieve underwriting targets to ensure profitable growth; establish and monitor relevant KPI’s including submission rate, quote ratio, bind ratio, etc.Manage a team of underwriters including effective delegation of underwriting authority (balancing speed to market against effective risk controls), mentoring/coaching, and providing vision and growth opportunitiesManage strategic distribution partners (e.g., wholesalers, brokers, MGA, etc.) including monitoring of profitable production targets, go-to-market strategies (in conjunction with the sales teams) and issues resolutionCollaborate with actuarial teams to validate pricing assumptions and ensure alignment with underwriting guidelinesWork closely with both internal and external customers to ensure the highest underwriting standardsChampion and represent the underwriting function while effectively interacting with other internal stakeholders/functionStrive to exceed Ford’s customer service expectations throughout the buying/servicing/renewal processPortfolio Optimization & Technical Underwriting:Provide deep technical expertise and guidance for all business unit product capabilities serve as a trusted advisorOversee the management and refinement of all Underwriting Guidelines in collaboration with ecosystem partners capabilitiesDrive thoughtful cycle management across the portfolio leveraging analytics and functional support resources to capitalize on high margin opportunities, reposition or exit unprofitable market segments and grow/maintain margins for the balance of the bookProactively monitor key underwriting and claims metrics to identity emerging risks and opportunitiesCollaborate with underwriting leaders, business performance management, actuarial and modeling teams to develop and implement technical pricing and other analytic capabilities to drive price adequacy and profitabilityImplement, assess and refine pricing strategies; including risk tiering, segmentation and other methods to optimize portfolio in collaboration with actuarialAct as underwriting referral point for complex risks and risks that exceed authority levelsProactively drive underwriting actions and initiatives to improve overall profitability of the portfolioImplement adoption of advanced tools and supplemental data sets to enhance and augment underwritingNew Product Development:Ensure that proper Underwriting strategies align with appetite, and target portfolio metricsOversee coordination and evaluation of new product, program and geographic expansion opportunitiesUnderwriting Governance and Controls:Develop effective processes, policies, procedures, and controls to ensure effective and quality underwritingIncrease the use of underwriting automation with the necessary controls to enable the business to scaleEnsure regulatory compliance and the underwriting function adapts to any regulatory change, strategic decisions, or adoption of best practicesManage internal and external audit proceduresUW Audit Process:Manage overall underwriting audit framework in collaboration with complianceLead and manage the quality/content of Underwriting audit findings and the audit process. Use the audit process to build & strengthen underwriter skill sets, improve strategies and update guidelines over timeManage audit recommendations generated by audit findings to conclusion and create a team process to do so. Implement and monitor supplementary underwriter self-audit quality control processesRisk Management:Manage portfolio Gross/Net premium and CAT accumulationsMonitor and manage portfolio within established tolerances, thresholds and target metricsSupport Treaty insurance reviews and placements in coordination with the Ceded Reinsurance teamMonitor and manage Risk Management and capital adequacy framework in partnership with Finance and Actuarial Teams; ensure appropriate reinsurance strategies are leveraged based on portfolio and individual account characteristics, maturity of products and underwriting experience and performance targetsFord Pro Insure representative on Underwriter Committees, North American Statutory Boards, and Corporate Enterprise Risk Management process requirements as necessaryAuthority Management & Governance:Responsible for delegation of underwriting authority and attestations of underwriting team; maintain and improve an appropriate referral and delegation process based upon experience and skill sets, and partnerEstablish a process that confers underwriting authority after completion and review of on boarding process and provide updates as needed. Monitor authority levels each year and work to modify as needed over timeTraining & Talent Development:Continuously work with Ford Pro Insure’s underwriters to ensure execution of underwriting guidelines and best practices across the underwriting functionEncourage underwriter development and support model that allows the underwriting team to professionally growDocument and regularly update underwriting guidelines, manuals, and processes/procedures to drive positive underwriting engagement and makes efficient use of underwriting talentCollaborate with Talent development on training and development opportunities to enhance modern underwriter skillsetsAdvance underwriting skillsets to adapt to rapidly changing risk landscape. Oversee the ongoing development of underwriters - customer-focused and solutions-oriented expert that relies on data-driven decision-making and technology to optimize their underwriting portfolio and deliver consistent underwriting profit. Manage training needs based upon audit feedback, referral reviews and new product needsProduct Development and Management:Build out Ford Pro Insure’s commercial auto product function to meet customer needsPartner with internal and external stakeholders to position Ford Pro Insure’s offerings in the marketplace and contribute to new product developmentCollect market intelligence to analyze market trends and competitor product/pricing strategies to inform product/pricing decisions and ensure competitivenessDirect teams to conduct regular product reviews to assess performance, profitability, and market competitiveness, and recommend adjustments as necessary (including development of new products)Develop differentiated programs for focused market segments as part of an overall “program business” strategyBuild tools, processes, and documentation to ensure repeatable and compliant product development and implementationsManage, mentor and develop a team of product managers, ensuring defined to attract and retain talentFord Pro Insure Expansion:Support Ford Pro Insure’s national footprint and expansion strategies, specifically from a product and underwriting perspectiveEnsure compliant state product filing activities by preparing necessary documentation and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirementsParticipate in the review and approval process for state filings, ensuring timely submissions and adherence to regulatory timelinesCollaborate with cross-functional teams to gather and document business requirements and processes for new products and enhancements to existing offeringsEnsure that all business requirements are clearly communicated to relevant teams, including IT, Finance, Claims and Operations for effective implementationQualifications, Skills, and Experience:Minimum of 15 years of insurance product and underwriting experience, including a minimum of 5 years of commercial auto insurance experience (while not required, experience with multi-line insurance product and underwriting is a plus)At least five years of experience leading and developing a team, allocating resources efficiently, and setting realistic timelinesExperience building and/or leading business units with a track record of growth and profitabilityExperience leveraging data driven decision makingContinuing progress toward or completion of a professional designation (e.g., CPCU, ARM) preferredThorough understanding of state regulations governing commercial auto policy issuance and use, including policy forms and coverageBA/BS degree or equivalent experienceStrong problem-solving analytical and technical skills to assess riskProficient in underwriting and data software/analysis toolsPrior MGA experience a plusBroad knowledge of P&C and Financial Lines underwritingAbility to operate in a dynamic and high paced environment with a sense of urgencyAdaptable and able to manage competing prioritiesGrowth mindset, desire to both learn and teachAbility to drive data analytics and make appropriate correlations on resultsAbility to manage multiple projects and timelines across a variety of stakeholders to meet target deliverable deadlinesStrong communications skills both written and oral. Ability to concisely provide executive summaries to senior management as neededExperience in corporate governance and controls management including exposure to a wide variety of systemsWide variety of assignments in operational workflow reviews and systems a plusExperience in corporate governance controls and supporting infrastructureWell, organized with relentless attention to detailSelf-motivatedAbility to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environmentAction oriented and strong work ethicWhat you'll receive in return...As part of the Ford family, you’ll enjoy excellent compensation, and a comprehensive benefits package that includes generous PTO, retirement, savings and stock investment plans, incentive compensation, and much more. You’ll also experience exciting opportunities for professional and personal growth and recognition.Our benefits summary can be found here .You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder…or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverageFlexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare and moreFamily building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and moreVehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leasesTuition assistanceEstablished and active employee resource groupsPaid time off for individual and team community serviceA generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s DayPaid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660. #J-18808-Ljbffr

Created: 2025-10-07