Skyward Specialty provides commercial property and casualty (P&C) insurance solutions for brokers and agents through eight underwriting divisions, including Accident & Health, Captives, Global Property & Agriculture, Industry Solutions, Professional Lines, Programs, Surety, and Transactional E&S. It offers both non-admitted and admitted policies, with carriers’ A (Excellent) ratings from AM Best, indicating strong financial stability. The company differentiates itself by focusing on the complex end of the specialty market and using technology to deliver customized, nuanced coverage that fits specific client needs. Its approach, described as “rule our niche,” emphasizes deeper underwriting, agile execution, and targeted market selection to lead in chosen specialties. Overall, Skyward Specialty aims to provide tailored, reliable insurance solutions for brokers and clients in select niche markets while growing through a diversified suite of specialty products.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Houston, Texas
Founded
2007
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Health Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Paid Vacation
Paid Holidays
Parental Leave
Tuition Reimbursement
Professional Certification Support
Remote Work Options
Skyward Group (SKWD) stock: slightly drop as McHarg named successor as CFO plans exit. Skyward Group appoints Taryn McHarg as CFO successor ahead of Mark Haushill's 2027 retirement. Tldr. Table of Contents * Skyward Group names Taryn McHarg as CFO successor ahead of Haushill retirement. * SKWD shares fall 1.53% to $55.54 after a sharp early drop from above $57.50. * Mark Haushill will retire as Skyward Group CFO in March 2027 after over a decade. * McHarg brings senior finance experience from Apollo, BUPA and Ernst & Young. * Haushill will remain a Senior Advisor through 2027 to support the transition. Skyward Specialty Insurance Group (SKWD) fell 1.53% to $55.54 after dropping sharply during Thursday's morning trading. The shares later recovered part of the decline after trading above $57.50 earlier in the session. Meanwhile, Skyward Group announced a planned CFO transition that will extend through the end of 2027. Skyward Group names McHarg as next CFO. Skyward Group said Chief Financial Officer Mark Haushill plans to retire from his position on March 31, 2027. Taryn McHarg, currently Apollo CFO and Skyward Group Deputy CFO, will succeed Haushill after his retirement. Therefore, the company will promote an existing executive rather than recruit an external finance chief. McHarg has served as Apollo's CFO for more than four years and brings extensive insurance sector experience. Before Apollo, she spent nine years at BUPA and eventually became CFO of its international markets business. Earlier, she spent seven years at Ernst & Young, strengthening her accounting and financial management background. The appointment follows Skyward Group's January 2026 acquisition of Apollo Group Holdings, which expanded the company's specialty insurance operations. McHarg already holds senior finance responsibilities across the combined organization through her Deputy CFO position. As a result, Skyward expects the internal appointment to support continuity across financial planning and corporate operations. Haushill plans retirement after decade at Skyward. Haushill will retire after more than ten years with Skyward and several major changes across the company. During his tenure, Skyward completed its 2023 initial public offering and strengthened its broader capital position. He also held a central finance role during the company's expansion and Apollo acquisition. Skyward also improved its financial strength during the period, including progress in its AM Best financial rating. Those developments accompanied the company's shift toward a larger and more diversified specialty insurance business. Haushill therefore leaves after overseeing several important financing, reporting, and corporate development milestones. However, Haushill will remain involved after leaving the CFO position to support the leadership transition. He will serve as a Senior Advisor through the end of 2027 under the company's succession plan. That arrangement gives McHarg continued access to institutional knowledge during her first months leading Skyward's finance organization. Skyward builds on Apollo integration. Skyward Group now combines Skyward Specialty and Apollo under a broader specialty insurance organization with several operating businesses. The Apollo acquisition expanded the group's market reach and increased the importance of coordinated financial leadership. The CFO succession arrives during an important stage of the company's integration strategy. McHarg will inherit responsibility for financial planning as Skyward develops opportunities across the combined insurance platform. Her existing roles provide direct experience with Apollo's finances and Skyward Group's wider financial priorities. This background could simplify the transfer of responsibilities when Haushill formally leaves the CFO position. Skyward described the succession structure as part of its long-term approach to executive development and corporate stability. The company has more than seven months before McHarg takes the CFO role in March 2027. Until then, Haushill and McHarg will continue working through the transition while Skyward advances its post-acquisition strategy. Limited Time Offer Get 3 free stock ebooks. Discover top-performing stocks in AI, Crypto, and Technology with expert analysis. * Top 10 AI Stocks - Leading AI companies * Top 10 Crypto Stocks - Blockchain leaders * Top 10 Tech Stocks - Tech giants
Skyward Specialty appoints new E&S brokerage & inland marine president. Skyward Specialty Insurance Group has announced the appointment of Melissa Goto (pictured) as president, E&S brokerage and inland marine, to spearhead the strategic development of these businesses. The company said that Goto brings more than 25 years of underwriting and leadership experience, with proven ability to drive profitable growth, lead high-performing teams, and execute strategy across specialty P&C lines. Most recently, she served as head of P&C specialty lines at Intact Insurance, where she led national underwriting teams in a variety of complex markets. Her experience also includes key leadership positions at Chubb and more than 16 years at Travelers, where she managed multiple portfolios across a wide range of E&S markets. "Our ability to win in select markets starts by building a leadership team of the industry's top talent. Melissa exemplifies that standard. She has a reputation for delivering consistent underwriting performance and cultivating high-performing teams, making her an exceptional fit for Skyward Specialty," said John Burkhart, president, US Property & Casualty, Skyward Specialty. "Her broad knowledge across specialty P&C lines and deep expertise in the E&S market will help us further strengthen our position and provide greater value to our partners." Editor's picks. 30 April 2026 29 April 2026 28 April 2026 16 April 2026 14 April 2026 13 April 2026
Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc. ( ($SKWD) ) has shared an update. On November 13, 2025, Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc. entered into a new Credit Ag...
Skyward Specialty's Burkhart promoted to US P&C president. In this expanded role, John Burkhart will assume oversight of the company's captives & specialty programs divisions John Burkhart has been promoted to the role of president, US Property & Casualty, at Skyward Specialty Insurance. In this expanded role, Burkhart will assume oversight of the company's captives & specialty programs divisions in addition to his current responsibilities for professional lines, industry solutions, surety, accident & health, and transactional E&S. Additionally, claims, technology solution services (TSS) and pricing actuarial will now report to him. "Since joining in 2021, John has been instrumental to Skyward's growth and a central figure in our success. He has overseen several of our most successful developments and business expansions. His depth of experience, operational prowess, leadership, and the followership he inspires across the organization truly stand out." said Andrew Robinson, Skyward Specialty Chairman and CEO. "As we prepare for the next phase of growth, having the right leaders in place is critical to our continued success. I have complete confidence in John's ability to lead us forward with the same discipline, focus and commitment to our 'Rule Our Niche' strategy that has served us so well over the past five years."
Skyward Specialty Insurance Group has hired Christopher Zitzmann as President of Inland Marine and Transactional Property.