Several insurance companies have announced key leadership appointments aimed at strengthening operations, technology and underwriting capabilities.
Sai Thotapalli was appointed as vice president and chief technology officer at Canal Insurance. Thotapalli, who has more than 25 years of experience in insurance technology, previously held leadership roles at Nationwide Insurance, State Farm, State Auto and Great American Insurance Group. His expertise spans automation, IT governance, cloud computing and enterprise architecture.
"We are thrilled to welcome Sai to our executive team," said Paul Brocklebank, chairman and chief executive officer at Canal Insurance Company. "His exceptional track record of bridging the gap between business and technology, leading platform modernization and automation initiatives will play a pivotal role in enhancing Canal's business operations."
Tobias Cushing has been appointed as deputy chief underwriting officer at Zurich North America. Previously serving as casualty technical director, Cushing will report to Chief Underwriting Officer Heather Fox. He will focus on supporting profitable growth through technical capabilities and data-driven insights.
The company also introduced a new position, head of innovation, to enhance the use of telematics and other tech-driven tools for loss mitigation. The role will report to Cushing.
Aaron Davidson has been named senior vice president of broking and strategy at Trucordia. Davidson was most recently a managing partner at Peak 8 Advisors and previously served as CEO and president of Relay Partners.
“Throughout his career, Aaron has excelled at navigating complex markets, generating revenue and introducing transformative solutions to clients,” said Trucordia Chief Executive Officer Felix Morgan. “His extensive background in insurance broking – combined with his proven ability to spur growth through innovative risk management and operational integration – will blaze a solid path forward for our company.”
Davidson’s role will focus on strategic planning, risk management, and operational efficiencies. He said he looks forward to integrating technology into the company’s broking and strategy functions to enhance efficiency and client service.
Safety National has announced a management restructuring, effective April 1, 2025, with several leadership changes.
Mark Walls, formerly vice president of Client Engagement, has been named corporate senior vice president and chief marketing officer. Dan Berns, previously vice president of account services, will become corporate senior vice president of operations, overseeing account services and insurance compliance.
Meanwhile, Steve Kappel, vice president and chief information officer, will now serve as corporate senior vice president of information technology and chief information officer. Amy Schwent, formerly vice president and deputy general counsel, has been promoted to vice president and general counsel.
These leadership changes reflect ongoing efforts by insurance companies to enhance technology, underwriting, and operational strategies in response to evolving market conditions.
