Google-backed life insurtech Ethos bolsters executive team

San Francisco-based new life insurer  Ethos, which uses predictive analytics and data technology to eliminate traditional barriers to life insurance, has expanded its executive team with the hiring of Old Mutual's Brett Wilson as the company’s first vice president of risk & actuarial.

Ethos is backed by GV (formerly Google Ventures), Sequoia Capital, Accel, Stanford University and Arrive, a subsidiary of Roc Nation.

Wilson’s hire comes on the heels of Ethos’ Series C financing of $60 million led by GV, bringing total funding to-date to more than $100 million and valuation to nearly $500 million. The company is planning to expand into Austin and Singapore in the coming years, and expects to almost double its team in the next 12 months, with a particular focus on engineering, product, and design.

Wilson joins Ethos after a career leading business and product development at Old Mutual, where he most recently served as chief financial officer of its Latin American division. He has worked across diverse regions, including Africa, China, and Latin America.

At Ethos, he will lead the company’s underwriting efforts, focused on managing risk while maximising efficiency and ease of use for consumers and carrier partners.

“Ethos is building a wholly new model for life insurance, from the ground up. We need the best on our executive team to accomplish that at scale and give millions of families the protection they need,” said Peter Colis, CEO and co-founder at Ethos. “Brett’s deep industry expertise and passion for closing the nationwide coverage gap will be invaluable as we embark on Ethos’ next chapter. We’re excited to welcome him to the leadership team.”

Wilson commented: “Having worked in the insurance industry for nearly two decades, I can see the huge opportunity that a modern, agile, insurtech company like Ethos has to make a major impact on millions of lives. Ethos is aimed at defining a new era of life insurance, one built with ethics, technology, and simplicity at its core. I am thrilled to be joining a team that wants to protect the next million families while pushing the industry forward.”

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