Shortlist announced for individual categories at Cyber Awards USA 2025

The shortlist for the individual categories at Intelligent Insurer’s Cyber Insurance Awards USA 2025 has just been announced.

In recognition of the outstanding, influential individuals who are pushing the boundaries in cyber insurance, the 5 individual award categories feature inspiring leaders, rising stars, mentors and legends from across North America’s cyber insurance industry. 

Rising Star in Cyber Insurance 

Shawn Belovich, Senior VP - Digital Forensics & Cyber Incident Response, HaystackID

George Cole, Head of Strategic Partnerships & US Northeast Lead, Cyber, Mosaic Insurance

Ben Elowe, Senior Vice President, US & Canada Cyber Practice, Marsh

Joseph Erle, Cyber Group Practice Leader, C3 Risk & Insurance

Ramya Gadiyaram, Senior Director of Engineering, CyberCube

Peter Halprin, Partner, Haynes Boone 

Christa Johnson, Cyber Claims Team Lead, Gallagher Bassett

Samuel Kim, Underwriting Manager, Cyber & Technology, AXA XL

Damini Mago, Associate Director, Product Management, Moody's

Leah Peckerman, Claims Manager - Cyber/Tech Team, Liberty Mutual

Jonas Schwade, CEO, cysmo Cyber Risk 

Steven Schwartz, VP, Insurance Strategy & Underwriting, Safe Security

CISO of the Year 

Dustin Hutchison, Senior Vice President of Services & CISO, Pondurance

John Wilson, Chief Information Security Officer and President of Forensics, HaystackID

Kevin Johnson, CISO, The Beckage Firm

Phil Venables, CISO & VP of Technical Infrastructure Security, Google Cloud

Cyber Mentor of the Year 

Kelly Castriotta, Global Executive Underwriting Officer, Markel 

Yosha DeLong, Global Head of Cyber, Mosaic Insurance

Dustin Hutchison, Senior Vice President of Services & CISO, Pondurance

Michelle Lopilato, Head of Distribution, Converge Insurance

Jessica Olson, Vice President, CFC

Tresa Stephens, Regional Head of Cyber, Tech & Media - North America, Allianz Commercial

Ayesha West, Director Corporate Risk Brokering, Willis Towers Watson

Cyber Insurance Legend 

Lawrence Baldino, President - Cyber, Technology and Risk, DUAL North America

Erica Davis, Managing Director, Global Co-Head of Cyber, Guy Carpenter

Yosha DeLong, Global Head of Cyber, Mosaic Insurance

Joe DePaul, CEO/Co-Founder, IronGate CyberSecurity LLC

Shannon Groeber, Former CEO, CFC USA

Sean Hoar, Partner & Chair, Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete LLP

Robert Parisi, VP & Head of North American Cyber - F & C, Munich Re

Michael Phillips, Cyber Practice Leader, USA, CFC

Neeraj Sahni, SVP Cyber Broking Solutions, Aon

Judy Selby, Cyber Insurance Consultant, Selby Strategies

Scott Stransky, Managing Director & Head of Cyber Risk Intelligence Center, Marsh McLennan

John Coletti, Head of Cyber Underwriting, Coalition

John Mullen, Partner, Mullen Coughlin

Inspiring Woman in Cyber Insurance 

Jennifer Beckage, Managing Director, The Beckage Firm

Gwenn Cujdik, North America Incident Response & Cyber Services Lead, AXA XL

Yosha DeLong, Global Head of Cyber, Mosaic Insurance

Jordan Fischer, CEO, International Women's Cyber Alliance, Inc.

Meghan Hannes, Chief Underwriting & Claims Officer, K2 Cyber Insurance Services

Anya Korolyov, Senior Vice President, Cyber Incident Response & Advanced Technologies Group, HaystackID

Anne Meeron, Head of Cyber Strategy and Performance, Liberty Mutual

Kirsten Mickelson, Cyber Claims Practice Leader, Gallagher Bassett

Tresa Stephens, Regional Head of Cyber, Tech & Media - North America, Allianz Commercial

Mariana Swann, Associate Vice President of Legal and Insurance, Pondurance

Pam Townley, Head of Product, Converge Insurance

Alyssa Watzman, Partner & Vice Chair, Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete 

Louisa Weix, Managing Partner, TittmanWeix 

Susan Young, Managing Director, Cyber Practice, US & Canada, Marsh

Emily Selck, Senior Director, National Cyber Practice Leader, The Baldwin Group

The announcement comes after the companies featured in the 17 company categories were revealed last week. 

View the list of all the finalists 

Now in its second successful year, the awards feature a variety of categories, each carefully designed to reward every aspect of cyber insurance, including carriers, brokers, managing general agents (MGAs), insurtech providers, SMEs, and individuals. The awards bring together America’s key innovators, small and large, in cyber insurance to recognise and celebrate success. 

An expert independent panel of judges including; Michelle Chia, Chief Underwriting Officer for Cyber, Design and Select Professionals, AXA XL Americas; Brett Nakano, Head of US Cyber, Swiss Re; Ho-Tay Ma, SVP-North America Team Leader for Professional Lines, SCOR; Deborah Hirschorn, Managing Director U.S. Cyber & Technology Claims Leader,  Lockton; Lawrence Baldino, President - Cyber, Technology, and Professional Liability, DUAL North America; Lydia Lasalata, Global Head of Cyber Reinsurance; SVP-Professional Liability Treaty Team, Axis Re; Robert Parisi, Head of Cyber Solutions, Americas, Munich Re and many more will decide in the coming weeks who the winner for each category is.

The winners will be revealed at a glittering evening awards ceremony on Tuesday April 1st. A welcome drinks reception will be followed by a three course dinner, entertainment and awards presentations. It’s set to be a fantastic opportunity to network with some of America’s leading cyber innovators.

The awards ceremony will follow the first info-packed day of Intelligent Insurer’s Cyber Risk & Insurance Innovation USA 2025 conference which sees many of America’s Cyber brokers, carriers, and security experts convene in Chicago for 2 days of learning, idea sharing and networking. 

For general awards enquiries contact Gina Baillie gbaillie@intelligentinsurer.com. For table booking enquiries please contact James Brown jbrown@newtonmedia.co.uk. 

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