Pioneer hires from Markel for global business development role

Pioneer Underwriters has appointed Denise Cea Katz as vice president to lead its business development and marketing efforts.

In the new role, Cea Katz will also be responsible for enhancing the US distribution across all of Pioneer’s business lines as part of the group’s global expansion strategy.

He will be based in New York, and report to Gene Hinman, chief executive officer of Pioneer’s US underwriting platform Pioneer Special Risk (PSR).

Cea Katz joins Pioneer from Markel Corporation, where he most recently served as the director of global business development, working for its global insurance division across regions and broker specialties.

He has over 25 years of re/insurance experience, having worked at Aon Benfield and General Re in the past.

Hinman said: “PSR continues to grow, extending its geographical reach and classes of business in the US. Denise brings exactly the right experience to advance Pioneer’s strategy of international growth while overseeing the continued success of this platform. Denise has an outstanding track record and I am delighted she will be adding her expertise to the team.”

Cea Katz added: “Pioneer Special Risk has a deserved reputation as an increasingly significant player in the international insurance market. I am extremely excited to be part of the ongoing growth and development of Pioneer’s US proposition.”

Did you enjoy reading this story?  Sign up to our free daily newsletters and get stories like this sent straight to your inbox.