Everest bolsters US and global property leadership with three key appointments

Everest Insurance, the insurance arm of Bermuda-based  Everest Re Group, has made key leadership changes in its US and global property division following the retirement of Erik Nikodem.

Nikodem, president of global property, will retire in mid-July after a three decade career.

Chris Curtin (pictured left) has been appointed senior vice president and head of US property. Curtin is based in Boston and will report directly to Mike Karmilowicz, president and CEO of  Everest Insurance. In his new position, Curtin will be responsible for driving growth in the company’s US-based wholesale, retail, inland marine and middle market property segments. He will also oversee the execution of the firm’s property underwriting strategy. He has more than 20 years of experience, having managed all aspects of  Everest Insurance’s US property operations since joining the company in 2016.

Patrick Hagerty (pictured centre) will assume the role of vice president, division underwriting officer for US property, where he will focus on delivering underwriting profitability across all US property business units. He will also serve as a key member of the global property leadership team to execute on the company’s mission, set and manage risk appetites across products, geographies and occupancies, and help steer the division’s overall strategic direction. He will be based in New York and will report to Curtin. Hagerty has over 15 years of property underwriting experience, and joined Everest from AIG in 2021 where he served as the deputy chief underwriting officer for retail property.

Maria Grace (pictured right), head of international property, has been named chief underwriting officer of global property. She will continue to be based in London, reporting to Mike Mulray, chief operating and underwriting officer for  Everest Insurance. Grace brings more than 20 years of underwriting experience. She most recently served as head of international property, overseeing European and Asian property operations.

Commenting on the leadership changes, Karmilowicz said: “Erik has been a driving force within our company during the last six years. I am grateful for his leadership and for helping to build our property division into the world-class business it is today, serving our brokers and clients throughout the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. We wish Erik all the best in a well-deserved retirement and a new life chapter.”

He added: “I also want to congratulate Chris, Patrick and Maria on their new roles. We are fortunate to have such a deep bench of leadership talent across our organization, and I am confident they will further advance the trust we have earned in the property marketplace. Under their leadership, we will continue to elevate our value proposition, delivering superior customer service and diversified product offerings to our customers around the world.”

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