Full-Time
AVP – Regional Manager
Commercial
Posted on 3/4/2026
W.R. Berkley
Commercial insurance underwriting, reinsurance, and investments
Compensation Overview
$150k - $225k/yr
Chicago, IL, USA
In Person
 Finance & Banking (1) |
|---|
- Minimum 4-year degree or related industry experience
- 10+ years of Surety industry or related experience required
- Demonstrates the ability to read, analyze, discuss and interpret financial statements, bond forms, contract documents and government regulations and reach appropriate risk assessment conclusions
- Effective oral and written communication skills with the ability to write clear and effective reports and business correspondence so that others will clearly understand the content and the intent. Ability to provide well developed recommendations in support of new and existing accounts, as well as client bond needs.
- Ability to effectively manage and develop people
- Strong analytical and decision-making skills. Ability to solve practical problems and appropriately deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists
- Ability to effectively interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
- Ability to use the automation tools provided by BSG (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Lotus Notes, U/W System, etc.)
- Ability to manage an entire book of business and lead, coach and mentor people, if appropriate
- Ability to work independently and in a team environment
- Self-motivation and an out-going orientation with strong customer focus
- Oversee the profit center for a particular line of business. Produce, manage and underwrite new and renewal business from assigned agents/brokers in the primary line of business.
- Consistently achieve budgeted financial results (premium volume, loss ratio, premium collections and expense management including commissions) through new business acquisition, retention of business, and effective price management as a result of executing personal and branch objectives.
- Actively participate in the planning and expense management process.
- Interact and collaborate with a team of Line of Business colleagues and other critical internal/external business associates.
- Position involves both outside and inside business development and includes direct responsibility for agency development and management within a book of business.
- Engaged in the oversight and management of a profit center with a concentration on a particular line of business. Develops and manages the premium budget and expense process for the profit center.
- Underwrites, assesses and manages assigned portfolio of accounts in a particular line or lines of business; can effectively underwrite both performance and non-performance bonds.
- Develops, understands, and executes personal and branch objectives and strategies in an effort to produce budgeted results.
- Effectively develops and leverages agency/client relationships through a high level of visibility with agents, brokers, and clients in support of business objectives.
- Plans and executes effective regular travel to develop and enhance new and existing producer and account relationships; Visits new and existing accounts; prepares and shares meeting agendas, obtains follow up documentation, evaluates the accounts and submits timely detailed submission memos for appropriate credit approval.
- Effectively communicates the mission and objectives of the Company in account meetings with confidence, clear communication, good listening skills, professionalism, and empathy with the goal to be a trusted adviser and valued partner to all parties. Maintains and manages workflow, including effective communications, with agency representatives in assigned territory, meeting all company standards and expectations. Communicates acceptance or rejection of new and existing accounts while working towards establishing and enhancing the Company’s brand.
- Accountable for accurate underwriting documentation/information in account management systems and adherence to documentation standards and ensures accuracy and integrity of all information contained in account files, and keeps them up to date.
- Effectively keeps Sr. Management apprised of issues of importance to the Branch and to the Company.
- Diligently manages collections of receivables, especially over 90s, in conjunction with proper account management.
- Responsible for the development and supervision of Portfolio Managers, Executive Underwriters, Sr. Underwriters, Underwriters, Associate Underwriters or Underwriting Trainees, as appropriate.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Business/Finance/Accounting Majors preferred, but not required
- Banking or Credit Analysis background is a plus
W. R. Berkley provides commercial property and casualty insurance and reinsurance worldwide. It underwrites through two segments: Insurance with 53 operating units offering lines like excess and surplus, commercial auto, and workers’ compensation; and Reinsurance & Monoline Excess which writes reinsurance and excess policies for other insurers and self-insured entities. Revenue comes from premiums on insurance and reinsurance contracts and from investment income, supporting risk transfer and market capacity. The goal is to deliver steady underwriting results and financial returns for shareholders by serving a broad client base across many industries.
Company Size
N/A
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Greenwich, Connecticut
Founded
1967
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Net investment income surges 12.2% to $404.3 million in Q1 2026.
- 21.2% ROE exceeds 15% target with $336.1 million shareholder returns.
- 7.2% average rate increases excluding workers' compensation boost premiums.
What critics are saying
- National carriers like Chubb erode excess lines share within 6-12 months.
- Auto liability rates fail claims inflation, forcing exposure cuts in 12 months.
- Rising medical costs inflate workers' comp claims, deteriorating ratios in 6 months.
What makes W.R. Berkley unique
- 53 specialized operating units deliver niche commercial insurance globally.
- Reinsurance & Monoline Excess segment spreads risk with 78.6% combined ratio.
- Decentralized model targets excess, surplus, and workers' compensation lines.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Wellness Program
Paid Time Off
401(k) Retirement Plan
Profit Sharing
Annual Bonus Potential
Company News
Diane P. Mika named chief risk management officer of Berkley Alliance Managers. GLASTONBURY, Conn. (April 2, 2026) - Berkley Alliance Managers, a Berkley company specializing in professional liability insurance solutions for design, construction and service professionals has announced the appointment of Diane P. Mika as chief risk management officer. Mika previously served as senior vice president, risk management officer and department head for Berkley Alliance Managers. She brings more than 30 years of professional liability insurance experience and a distinguished record in risk management and loss prevention education. In her new role, she will lead the client-facing risk management function for Berkley Construction Professional, Berkley Design Professional and Berkley Service Professionals, advancing the organization's commitment to delivering industry-leading resources and solutions. "Diane's deep expertise in professional liability risk management, paired with her leadership in developing innovative learning and loss prevention programs, makes her uniquely qualified to lead the risk management services we provide to clients," said Stephen L. Porcelli, president of Berkley Alliance Managers. "Her vision, industry insight and commitment to elevating client education will continue to strengthen the value we deliver to construction, design and service professionals." Since joining Berkley Alliance Managers in 2014, Mika has played a pivotal role in shaping the organization's client-facing risk management strategy. She led the development of the award-winning BDP Risk(R) Learning Management System and built a comprehensive portfolio of resources, including live workshops, on-demand courses and curated learning plans. Her leadership has set a high standard for innovation and excellence in client education and risk mitigation. Andrew D. Mendelson, FAIA, who previously served as chief risk management officer, will continue with Berkley Alliance Managers as executive vice president, client experience (CX) officer and a member of the executive team until his planned retirement in 2027. About Berkley Alliance Mangers Berkley Alliance Managers specializes in professional liability products and services across four key industries: design, construction, miscellaneous services and accounting. The organization is recognized for its innovative approach, deep industry expertise and commitment to excellence. Berkley Alliance Managers is a member of W. R. Berkley Corporation, a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange and part of the S&P 500. Its insurance company subsidiaries are rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best. For more information, visit berkleyalliance.com.
Malpractice insurance to shape lawyer AI regulation. SUMMARY Major insurers are already imposing absolute AI exclusions, sub-limits and intentional acts triggers that leave attorneys personally exposed, and that financial pressure will drive AI governance in legal practice far more effectively than any ethics opinion. Firms that cannot document their AI due diligence, vendor relationships and disclosure practices will find themselves uninsured, undefended and liable, and no amount of rulemaking will fix that after the fact. Malpractice litigation will almost certainly become one of the most powerful engines driving AI governance in legal practice. Civil liability operates on a more urgent timeline than bar discipline. Clients do not need to wait for a disciplinary proceeding to sue, and damages can dwarf the sanctions courts have imposed for hallucinated filings. Researcher Damien Charlotin's AI Hallucination Cases database has already catalogued over 1,000 cases worldwide involving AI-generated errors in court filings, each a potential malpractice claim waiting to be filed. The doctrinal mechanism is familiar. As AI-related malpractice cases accumulate, courts will define what a reasonably competent attorney does when deploying these tools, what verification protocols satisfy the standard of care, what vendor due diligence is required before inputting client data, and what disclosures are owed when AI materially shapes the work product. Each verdict and settlement will harden that standard, and bar associations will eventually codify what the courts have already decided. This is precisely how malpractice law shaped attorney obligations around conflicts of interest, file retention and engagement letters in earlier generations. Cases like Mata v. Avianca and Johnson v. Dunn have already established that the signing attorney owns the entire filing regardless of who used the AI tool or where the error originated, exactly the kind of standard-of-care foundation that plaintiffs' malpractice lawyers will build on. The insurance market is accelerating this reckoning in ways that ethics opinions cannot. The ABA Journal has reported that many attorneys will be surprised to learn their malpractice policies may not cover AI-related claims at all, since AI use may not satisfy policy definitions of "professional service" and individual claims may be subject to sub-limits as low as $500,000 under a policy with a $10 million face amount. The exclusions picture is hardening fast. Berkley Insurance has introduced an "absolute" AI exclusion eliminating coverage for any claim arising from AI use by the insured or any third-party vendor acting on the insured's behalf. Hamilton Insurance Group has taken a similarly sweeping approach for professional liability policies. ALPS has warnedthat blindly accepting AI output could trigger intentional acts exclusions, leaving attorneys personally exposed with no coverage whatsoever. Insurers have historically been among the most effective regulators of attorney behavior because their leverage is financial and immediate rather than disciplinary and delayed. The same pressure that drove law firms to adopt conflict check systems and engagement letter requirements will now drive AI governance through the same channel. Munich Re's dedicated AI insurance product for law firms already requires documented due diligence on AI systems as a condition of coverage, effectively mandating vendor vetting through the marketplace rather than through rulemaking. Rules and regulations will need to address the specific monetary questions this landscape creates: who bears liability when a vendor's tool fails, whether engagement letters must disclose AI use to preserve defenses, how billing practices interact with negligence claims when AI generates the work product and what indemnification arrangements between firms and AI vendors are ethically permissible. These are questions the existing Model Rules are not designed to answer. The malpractice docket, insurance market and case law are converging on the same destination and together they will force the profession's hand in ways that ethics opinions never could alone. You may also enjoy: and if you like what you read, please subscribe below or in the right-hand column.
W. R. Berkley Corporation has appointed Ryan Miller as president of Berkley Southeast, effective immediately. Miller brings over 25 years of experience in commercial insurance operations, underwriting and field management. He most recently served as senior vice president and chief field operations manager at a large regional carrier, where he was responsible for growth, profitability and operational excellence. Throughout his career, Miller has focused on providing commercial insurance solutions to customers across the southeastern United States. W. Robert Berkley, Jr., chief executive officer of W. R. Berkley Corporation, described Miller as a proven leader with deep operational expertise and a disciplined approach to underwriting and profitable growth. Founded in 1967, W. R. Berkley Corporation is amongst the largest commercial lines writers in the United States.
W. R. Berkley reported fourth quarter revenue of $3.72 billion, slightly missing analyst estimates of $3.75 billion, whilst adjusted earnings per share of $1.13 met expectations. Operating margin fell to 15.4% from 19.9% in the prior year period. CEO Rob Berkley attributed performance to underwriting discipline and lower catastrophe losses, emphasising the company's diversified structure. The company faces headwinds from increased competition and shifting customer preferences. During the earnings call, analysts probed several key areas. Berkley indicated that workers' compensation faces rising medical costs after artificial suppression, whilst auto liability pricing remains inadequate. The company is pulling back from certain professional and large property lines. Management expects technology investments to deliver both cost savings and value creation, with benefits depending on market conditions.
W. R. Berkley, a property casualty insurer, reported Q4 revenue of $3.72 billion, missing analyst estimates of $3.75 billion with 1.5% year-on-year growth. Non-GAAP profit of $1.13 per share met expectations, whilst operating margin declined to 15.4% from 19.9% a year earlier. CEO Rob Berkley attributed performance to underwriting discipline, lower catastrophe losses and operational efficiency from technology investments. The company is prioritising AI and technology investments to improve efficiency and underwriting capabilities whilst adapting distribution models to meet changing customer preferences. Management maintained selective growth strategies, deliberately reducing exposure in segments like auto liability due to unfavourable pricing. CFO Richard Baio expects the expense ratio to remain below 30% in 2026. The company continues focusing on opportunities in excess and umbrella casualty, excess and surplus markets, and medical stop loss.