VP, Head of Excess Casualty

Argo Group is a leader in specialty insurance with a vibrant culture built on respect, equality, wellness and opportunity. We’re an innovative organization that’s small enough to be agile and big enough to make a difference in our industry.  

Our collaborative workplace is continuously evolving to ensure all employees feel: 

• Comfortable bringing their whole selves to work. 
• Confident that they will be treated respectfully. 
• Recognized for their performance and provided with equal opportunities to succeed. 

At Argo, skill meets opportunity. If you’re wired to raise your hand and ask, “Where can I help?”, you’ll thrive with us. 

Argo Group currently has a challenging opportunity for a VP, Head of Excess in their Casualty line of business.  This position will provide strategic guidance and direction to the underwriting business units in regard to business development, underwriting excellence, and operational/shared services to promote profitable underwriting results. Will be responsible for driving profitable growth for assigned product or territory. Will collaborate with executive management to develop strategic and tactical initiatives to reach the organization’s goals.

The primary duties and responsibilities of the role are:

• Identify and support profitable new business and product opportunities.
• Identify strategic agencies and facilitate effective partnerships with underwriting and marketing.
• Lead process improvement and underwriting strategies for assigned area.
• Identify program opportunities and coordinate underwriting resources to accomplish.
• Drive product and platform expansion.
• Establish and communicate production and profit-related goals including new business development, distribution platform management, target loss ratios, policy count, hit ratios, renewal retention as it relates to new product/program launch, etc.
• Provide leadership, mentoring and advice to regional staff regarding underwriting risks.
• Proactively develop strategies and actions to resolve adverse trends or deviations from established underwriting standards identified through producer and account review audits.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with distribution community at a senior level.  Adds tangible value to the composition of our current distribution platform. 
• Collaborate with executive management when needed to analyze profit and loss statements to make appropriate business decisions. 
• Cultivate and maintain relationships within and outside Argo Group to develop and drive new business opportunities.
• Act as a role model demonstrating belief in, and commitment to, the aspiration values of the Argo Group continuing to build and lead a value-based organization committed to long-term success.
• Typically manages a mid-size team of professional level underwriters and people managers.
• Participate in the recruitment and selection process to ensure the organization has the necessary talent to accomplish business goals.
• Promote an environment that encourages self-motivation, teamwork and collaboration.
• Ensure professional development of underwriting team including continued growth in underwriting knowledge and skills as well as professional behavior
• As necessary, work with reinsurers and reinsurance intermediaries.  

Core qualifications and requirements for this position include:

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum of 15 years underwriting experience with experience underwriting and marketing or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Management experience required with a proven ability to successfully lead a team. 10 years management experience highly preferred.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the external market, producer community, competitive environment and contributes to the development of business strategy.
• Superior oral and written communication skills with the ability to influence decisions.
• Ability to influence, motivates, and promotes a team atmosphere to achieve desired results.
• Recognized as a leader within the organization that provides advice and guidance to others.
• Ability to read, understand and interpret company financial and actuarial reports to achieve business goals.
• Strong ability to partner with claims, finance, actuarial, IT and marketing resources.
• Independent decision maker – takes full responsibility for making decisions and consequences associated with decisions.
• Demonstrate significant contribution to underwriting profit.
• Continually seeks opportunities for niche products and potential agent opportunities.
• Experience in delivering presentations to internal and external audiences.
• Requires demonstrated experience in developing and implementing an annual department business plan
• Proven employee development, mentoring, coaching and performance management skills.
• Recognized as a leader within the organization that provides advice and guidance to others.
• Ability to travel as needed, and with short notice.
• Proficient in the use of computer programs, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Strong computer skills required. Must be able to work closely with various support systems and understand and apply basic programming tactics.

PLEASE NOTE:  At this time, Argo Group will not sponsor an applicant for employment authorization for this position.

If you have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act or a similar law and you wish to discuss potential accommodations related to applying for employment at Argo Group, please contact our Benefits Department at 210-321-8400. 

To all recruitment agencies:  Unless you have been requested to work on this position, or other positions with Argo Group, please do not forward any resumes to Argo Group employees.   Argo Group is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

Argo Group International Holdings, Inc. (“Argo” or the “Company”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Brookfield Wealth Solutions, Ltd. (“BWS”), a New York and Toronto-listed public company. Argo, with over $8 billion of assets on its balance sheet, is a leading underwriter of specialty insurance products in the property and casualty (P&C) market, working with independent agents, wholesale brokers, and retail brokerage partners to deliver collaborative solutions for niche markets.

BWS is a leading wealth solutions provider, focused on securing the financial futures of individuals and institutions through a range of wealth protection and retirement services, and tailored capital solutions. BWS is backed by Brookfield Corporation, a leading global investment firm whose asset management business manages more than $1 trillion in assets as of September 30, 2024.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin or citizenship (including language use restrictions), denial of family and medical care leave, disability (mental and physical) , including HIV and AIDS, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), race, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex (including pregnancy, child birth, breastfeeding, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, child birth or breastfeeding), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or other status protected by laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. 

The collection of your personal information is subject to our HR Privacy Notice

Our Benefits

Developing our employees professionally and personally strengthens our organization.
Argo Group offers an attractive Total Rewards package that includes:

• A culture that recognizes performance and empowers employees to excel, offering competitive compensation and merit driven profit sharing.
  
  
• Workplace policies that support employee well-being include flex time and floating holidays.
  
  
• Comprehensive health, wellness, and financial planning options that employees can tailor to meet their personal and family needs.  In addition to traditional health and wellness plans, benefits include dental, disability, life insurance, medical, and vision insurance, matching 401(k) retirement savings, generous paid time off (21 days of PTO, 11 paid company holidays, 3 floating holidays and a paid voluntary day), paid caregiver and parental leave, paid bereavement, jury duty/court appearances, and military (up to 14 days) leave, employee assistance program (EAP), and an array of voluntary benefits.  
  
  
• Argo Academy, a digital and instructor-led platform that offers continuous learning and professional development – Training magazine lists Argo among the Training "Top 125" Companies.   Argo encourages career mobility and continuing education to pursue and maintain professional and industry designations, in addition to traditional university and higher education programs.
  
  
• An inclusive culture that develops and sponsors diverse teams, encourages cross-functional engagement and collaboration, builds community through employee resource groups (ERGs), and provides an environment that welcomes ongoing dialogue, creative innovation, professional and personal development.
  
  
• Active community outreach and volunteer programs.
  
  
• A generous Employee Referral program that results in approximately 25% of all new hires annually.