Field Property Adjuster

Insurance moves: AXIS, Sedgwick, Lumos, InsurBanc, Arcadian and William Blair. They include a new CEO and a new managing director 22 Sep 2026 Several insurance and financial services organizations announced leadership changes this week, spanning banking, casualty underwriting, claims administration, specialty MGA expansion and investment banking. AXIS Capital makes two casualty leadership appointments. AXIS Capital has hired Kyle Sternadori (pictured, left) as head of US excess casualty and expanded Mike Flaherty's role to chief underwriting officer for wholesale casualty, both effective September 22. Sternadori joins with more than 20 years of casualty underwriting and leadership experience and will lead the strategic direction, underwriting performance and market development of AXIS's excess casualty business. Flaherty, who has been with AXIS throughout his career, takes on expanded responsibility for underwriting governance, product strategy, portfolio oversight and execution across the wholesale casualty platform. Both report to Anna Tan, head of wholesale casualty. Two senior appointments in AXIS's wholesale casualty leadership in the same week, one an external hire to lead excess casualty and one an expanded internal mandate, together signal a deliberate push to scale that specific book rather than simply maintain it. Wholesale brokers placing excess casualty risk should expect more proactive engagement from AXIS on appetite and capacity, and may find this a reasonable moment to test submissions that have previously been difficult to place. Sedgwick adds a former Allstate general counsel as its global chief legal officer. Sedgwick has appointed Courtney Welton (pictured, center) as global chief legal officer, general counsel and corporate secretary. Welton joins from Allstate, where she served as senior vice president, general counsel and chief ethics, privacy and compliance officer, with prior senior legal roles at Motorola Mobility, Google and Lenovo, and she began her legal career at Skadden. At Sedgwick, she will lead legal strategy, governance, regulatory compliance and risk management, and will also oversee responsible AI governance. Sedgwick handles claims administration for a significant portion of the US P&C market, meaning a new chief legal officer shaping its AI governance and compliance posture can have downstream effects on how claims are processed, documented and contested. Brokers whose clients rely on Sedgwick as a third-party administrator should note that Welton's explicit mandate includes advancing responsible AI governance, a priority that will increasingly affect how automated claims decisions get made and reviewed. Lumos Insurance hires a London market specialist. Lumos Insurance has named Ian Meadows (pictured, right) senior vice president and managing director for global property casualty and specialty insurance. Meadows joins from Alvarez & Marsal, where he was head of global specialty and commercial insurance, with prior experience as a partner in EY's specialty practice and as co-founder and board director of Insurwave, a digital platform connecting specialty marine and aviation clients with insurers. He will be based in London and lead the growth of Lumos's property and casualty business, which currently centers on credit, warranty and property risks. Lumos's 45-year history serving banks, credit unions and specialty lenders gives it a distribution network of more than 1,500 US partners, and Meadows's appointment signals it intends to offer those partners P&C and specialty capacity alongside existing credit protection products. Brokers working with lender or financial institution clients may want to watch how Lumos's P&C platform develops, particularly around credit and specialty property risks where its existing relationships create a ready-made distribution channel. InsurBanc names a new president and CEO. InsurBanc has appointed Lou Garcia as president and chief executive officer, succeeding David Tralka, who moves into the role of board chairman. Garcia brings more than 25 years of experience in investment banking, alternative asset management and financial services, having previously held vice president roles at Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette and JH Whitney & Co., alongside a role as partner and chief operating officer at Addison Clark Management and managing director at CBAM Partners. Garcia said he intends to build on InsurBanc's track record serving the independent agency community. "I look forward to building on InsurBanc's momentum and contributing to its continued success," Garcia said, adding that he plans to attend industry events in the coming months to meet customers in person. Garcia's investment banking and private equity background suggests a leader oriented toward growth financing and ownership transition deals rather than purely conservative lending, which may be relevant for agency owners considering acquisition financing or planning a sale to a next generation of principals. Arcadian enters US enterprise casualty market with a senior hire from Markel. Arcadian Risk Capital has appointed Matthew Mullen as executive vice president to lead its expansion into the US enterprise casualty market. Mullen joins from Markel, where he served as managing director of specialty insurance, with prior roles at Alterra, XL and Munich Re. Based in New York, he will develop Arcadian's presence in enterprise risk across retail distribution channels, structured as excess coverage spread across multiple risk sectors. Arcadian has secured multi-year underwriting capacity to support the launch. Arcadian is entering the US enterprise casualty market with a named, experienced underwriter and confirmed multi-year capacity, which gives retail brokers working on large, complex casualty accounts a new market to approach with submissions. Mullen's 35 years of experience and his stated focus on longstanding broker relationships suggests this is a market worth testing directly rather than waiting for a broader rollout. William Blair adds an insurance M&A banker from Galway and EPIC. William Blair has added William Nay as a managing director in its financial services investment banking team, based in Atlanta. Nay most recently served as chief acquisition officer at Galway Holdings and EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, and before that spent 16 years as an insurance sector banker at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, now Truist, executing M&A and capital-raising transactions across insurance, insurtech and fintech companies. For agency owners and principals considering a sale, recapitalization or acquisition financing, William Blair's addition of a banker with direct experience as a corporate acquirer at both Galway and EPIC, two of the more active buyers in insurance distribution, gives the firm genuine operational credibility on both sides of these transactions rather than purely advisory experience. Nay's time as a corporate M&A officer means he understands the buyer's perspective in a way that purely sell-side bankers often don't.

Allstate trains adjusters in damaged homes. The Claims University Property Lab uses full-scale residential scenarios to help adjusters assess damage and guide homeowners. Anthony R. O'Donnell // September 9, 2026 (Interior of home in Allstate Claims University training center. Source: Allstate.) Allstate (Northbrook, Ill.) has built two full-scale homes inside its Claims University training center to help property claim adjusters learn how residential damage occurs, spreads and is repaired. The Property Lab is one of two hands-on training environments inside Allstate Claims University, the insurer's 33,000-square-foot claims training center in Dallas, according to an Allstate statement. The facility includes two complete, two-story homes with a basement. Allstate says the Property Lab was built using insights from more than 100 million property claims. The homes recreate residential damage scenarios that adjusters may encounter when helping homeowners recover from property damage. "Customers trust Allstate during some of the most stressful moments they face as homeowners," comments Mike Fiato, EVP and Chief Claims Officer, Allstate. "The Property Lab gives our teams hands-on experience with real-world damage scenarios, helping them provide informed guidance and support when it matters most." The Property Lab lets adjusters inspect staged damage, examine what may be happening behind walls, ceilings and floors, and gain experience with different construction materials and finishes. Allstate says the homes include standard-grade components and higher-end materials to help adjusters prepare for varied property conditions and repair considerations. Hands-On Damage Scenarios The Property Lab includes training on water and plumbing damage, roof and storm damage, fire and smoke damage, and lightning-related damage to home systems and equipment. Damage scenarios include burst pipes, water intrusion, leaking appliances, drain backups, roof and skylight leaks, hail-damaged roofing materials, smoke and grease-fire damage, fire-related siding damage, and lightning damage affecting HVAC units and electrical components, according to the statement. Adjusters use cutaway wall sections to trace how damage travels through framing, insulation and plumbing. Interactive digital tools show damage patterns, repair techniques and restoration considerations. Allstate says the facility also includes roofing, water damage, cabinetry, plumbing, electrical and sump-pump training modules. The training is intended to help adjusters identify visible and hidden damage, understand how damage originated and spread, review coverage and explain repair needs to homeowners. The Property Lab is part of Allstate's broader investment in claim adjuster training and customer claim support. Allstate opened Claims University in August 2026. The Allstate Corporation provides auto, home, identity and device protection through Allstate agents, independent agents, major retailers, online channels and workplace distribution. Allstate reports 216 million policies in force.

Chicago Urban League unites job seekers and top employers at 13th annual Citywide Job Fair. The Chicago Urban League, in partnership with Allstate, Target, and United Airlines, hosted its 13th annual Citywide Job Fair on June 17, 2026, at the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago. This year's event featured over 85 employers and 2,618 registered job seekers from across Chicago and the greater metropolitan area, including surrounding suburbs, villages, and townships. Click here to download photos from this event. The job fair provided attendees with interview preparation, career guidance, and job readiness resources designed to help them connect with employers confidently. "The Citywide Job Fair is a direct expression of what the Chicago Urban League stands for - connecting people to real opportunity and building economic equity," said Karen Freeman-Wilson, President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League. "We are proud to bring together employers who are serious about diverse hiring and job seekers who are ready to work." "For 13 years, the Citywide Job Fair has bridged the gap between employers seeking diverse talent and job seekers pursuing new career opportunities," said Andrew Wells, Vice President of Workforce Development and Executive Director of the Empowerment Center at the Chicago Urban League. "Whether you're entering the workforce for the first time or looking to take the next step in your career, the Citywide Job Fair is your opportunity to connect with employers across healthcare, technology, finance, manufacturing, public service, and beyond. These few examples are not only examples of individuals with incredible work-ethic, but they are also examples of why The Chicago Urban League was founded in the first place." James Anderson, 24 At just 24 years old, James Anderson walked into the Chicago Urban League Citywide Job Fair ready to take an important step toward building his career. During the fair, James interviewed onsite with its co-partner Allstate, where he had the opportunity to share his skills, professionalism, and readiness to grow. His preparation and confidence made a strong impression, and shortly after the event, James received a conditional offer for a Customer Service Representative / Inside Sales Representative position, pending successful completion of his background check. Pamela Evans, 36 Pamela Evans came to the Chicago Urban League Citywide Job Fair with purpose, determination, and a willingness to pursue the next chapter in her professional journey. After interviewing onsite with Allstate, Pamela stood out as a strong candidate for the Claims Adjuster I position. Her experience, maturity, and commitment to moving forward helped open the door to a new career opportunity, and she was later extended a conditional employment offer pending successful completion of her background check. Yasmine Washington, 29 Yasmine interviewed onsite with Allstate and demonstrated the professionalism, focus, and potential that employers are looking for. As a result, she was extended a conditional offer for a Claims Adjuster I position, pending successful completion of her background check. Her journey shows the power of showing up prepared, taking advantage of the moment, and believing that the next opportunity can be the one that changes the direction of your career. Shonda Lewis, 30 Shonda Lewis came to the Chicago Urban League Citywide Job Fair to find an opportunity where she could bring her professionalism, people skills, and dedication to a meaningful workplace. During the fair, she connected with Learn Together Be Together Childcare Agency and made a strong impression through her warmth, readiness, and ability to represent herself with confidence. As a result, Shonda was offered a Front Desk Clerk position at the organization's South Suburban location Ron Anderson, 28 Ron Anderson's experience at the Chicago Urban League Citywide Job Fair reflects the importance of showing up prepared and believing that the right opportunity is possible. Ron showed up at the job fair about 2 hours before opening. While onsite, Ron interviewed with United Airlines and demonstrated the professionalism, customer-focused mindset, and potential needed for a Customer Solutions Representative role at United's O'Hare location. Following that interview, he received a conditional employment offer pending successful completion of his background clearance. Event Highlights Included: * 85 top employers actively hiring * On-site resume reviews and interview coaching * Career readiness workshops and networking sessions * On-site professional headshots * On-site child care