QBE North America has appointed Matt Westhoff as president of its commercial insurance operations.
Effective November 11, Westhoff will oversee QBE North America’s $1 billion-plus commercial insurance portfolio, which spans workers’ compensation, property, commercial construction, and specialty casualty.
Westhoff joins from Beazley, where he served as head of North America commercial property. His credentials include years spent at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and AIG.
Commenting on the appointment, QBE North America chief executive Julie Wood stated: “Matt brings a wealth of experience and a new perspective to the role and my management team.
“We are committed to the property and casualty segment, and Matt’s experience building profitable businesses from the ground up combined with his focus on talent, culture, and broker relationships will be invaluable as we look to scale and grow.”
Based in New York, Westhoff succeeds Mike Foley, who was commercial insurance president from March 2022 before transitioning to the role of North America chief underwriting officer.
Wood noted that an immediate priority for Westhoff will be to establish a new excess and surplus property business that will complement the insurer’s specialty casualty portfolio in North America.
“He’ll leverage the effective and successful distribution model we have in place which is characterized by a very limited retail and selective wholesale channel strategy that ensures we deliver a strong, personalized customer experience,” she said.
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