Press Releases

Everest Insurance™ Announces Strategic Additions to Wholesale Property Division


Following the previously announced appointment of Christopher S. Curtin as Head of Wholesale Property, Everest Insurance™ is pleased to announce a number of strategic additions to the wholesale property division: 

New York, NY (October 7, 2016) – Following the previously announced appointment of Christopher S. Curtin as Head of Wholesale Property, Everest Insurance™ is pleased to announce a number of strategic additions to the wholesale property division: 

Maria Grace joins Everest as Vice President based in the company’s Boston office. Prior to joining Everest, Maria was the Regional Property Manager for CV Starr. Maria brings over 15 years of commercial property underwriting experience in the global, national and large account space having held managerial, legal and executive positions within the insurance industry in Colombia, Miami and Boston. Maria holds a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law.

Ben Wilson joins Everest as Director, Wholesale Property, based in the company’s Tampa office. Ben brings over 30 years of commercial property underwriting expertise and extensive broker relationships throughout the Southeast. Prior to joining Everest Ben was the Branch Manager for AIG’s property team in Florida, where he led one of the most profitable underwriting operations in the firm’s large scale network over several years. Ben will be instrumental in broadening the Everest trading relationships with numerous wholesalers while expanding the footprint of the existing wholesale property portfolio. Ben holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Purdue University.

Joining Ben in the Tampa office are two seasoned and highly respected senior professionals; Jennifer Playford, Executive Underwriting Manager, who brings over 10 years of wholesale underwriting experience to the team and deep broker and client relationships developed during her tenure as a Senior Property Underwriter with AIG. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Florida. Olga Leon, Executive Underwriting Manager, will also be based in the Everest Tampa office and brings with her over 25 years of commercial property underwriting experience and a widespread following amongst numerous professional wholesalers. Prior to joining Everest, Olga was the Assistant Manager for Commercial Property at AIG’s Southeast Region. Olga holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Temple University.

Concurrent with these appointments, Everest has strengthened its Wholesale Underwriting Technician team with a focus on delivering world-class client service, product delivery and customer responsiveness. Joining the Everest wholesale property team in Tampa are; Dionne Clarett, Gayla Wallace, Evelyn Cortes, Sherry Newsome and Astrid Yildirim

Commenting on the additions, Erik Nikodem, Head of Property at Everest Insurance™ said, “The addition of this team of talented underwriters and underwriting technicians to our wholesale property division demonstrates Everest’s long-term commitment to this space. Under the leadership of Chris Curtin, this team of highly regarded insurance professionals significantly bolsters Everest’s ability to deliver best-in-class service to our broker trading partners and clients alike. We anticipate announcing several additional strategic additions in the coming weeks.”

Everest Re Group, Ltd. is a Bermuda holding company that operates through the following subsidiaries: Everest Reinsurance Company provides reinsurance to property and casualty insurers in both the U.S. and international markets. Everest Reinsurance (Bermuda), Ltd., including through its branch in the United Kingdom, provides reinsurance and insurance to worldwide property and casualty markets and reinsurance to life insurers. Everest Reinsurance Company (Ireland), dac, provides reinsurance to non-life insurers in Europe. Everest Insurance® refers to the primary insurance operations of Everest Re Group, Ltd., and its affiliated companies which offer property, casualty and specialty lines insurance on both an admitted and non-admitted basis in the U.S. and internationally. The Company also operates within the Lloyd's insurance market through Syndicate 2786. In addition, through Mt. Logan Re, Ltd., the Company manages segregated accounts, capitalized by the Company and third party investors that provide reinsurance for property catastrophe risks. Additional information on Everest Re Group companies can be found at the Group’s web site at www.everestregroup.com.