Former Nasdaq chief takes charge as Verisk CEO, leaving CFO job open

Lee Shavel (pictured) has formally taken charge as the chief executive officer (CEO) of global data analytics company  Verisk, leaving the job of chief financial officer (CFO) open, which the company expects to fill in the coming months.

The  ex-Nasdaq CFO Shavel was announced as  next in line for the CEO position at the start of this year, as part of the company's planned leadership transition following the retirement of Scott Stephenson.

At the same time, Mark Anquillare has been officially appointed president of the company, a role previously held by Shavel.

Shavel joined  Verisk in 2017 as CFO and later assumed the role of group president, following a solid career at electronic exchange Nasdaq, where he served as CFO from 2011 to 2016, and prior to that, as managing director, Americas head of Financial Institutions Investment Banking, and other roles at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Anquillare previously served as the chief operating officer (COO) and led the company’s insurance vertical.

Verisk described the Shavel and Anquillare as the “architects and drivers of  Verisk's growth, increased efficiency and an innovation agenda” in the insurance industry.

In addition to Shavel and Anquillare, the company has elected three new independent directors to its board: Jeffrey Dailey, Wendy Lane and Kimberly Stevenson.

“ Verisk has a profound opportunity to help the insurance industry evolve in a new digital environment, integrate and activate rapidly growing data sets and achieve new levels of efficiency. With our industry knowledge, technical expertise and established client relationships, we are uniquely positioned to address their needs as an essential technology partner,” Shavel said. “I’m humbled to assume the role of  Verisk CEO, and I will be focused on value creation for our customers, colleagues and shareholders. This is a great responsibility and one I truly cherish.”

Anquillare commented: “With a sharpened focus on serving the insurance industry, we’ve optimized our path toward continued growth and enhanced value creation. At such a pivotal moment for the industry,  Verisk is poised to empower new opportunities for our customers and colleagues around the globe.”

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