AVP, Head of Marine Underwriting

Locations: Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal

At Everest, we are committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion across our people, our work, and our leadership. We believe the strength of our organization lies in the diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences of our colleagues. This commitment is central to how we build high‑performing teams and deliver excellence for our clients and partners.

Everest Insurance Company of Canada (“EvCan”) is seeking an accomplished underwriting leader to serve as Assistant Vice President, Head of Marine Underwriting. Reporting to the Head of Energy, Construction, and Marine, this role is a key leadership position within EvCan’s Specialty Underwriting organization.

As Head of Marine, you will play a foundational role in building and scaling Everest’s Marine underwriting presence in Canada. You will be responsible for setting underwriting strategy, growing a profitable portfolio, strengthening distribution relationships, and fostering a culture of disciplined underwriting, collaboration, and entrepreneurial thinking. This role combines strategic leadership, technical excellence, and market-facing engagement and offers the opportunity to meaningfully shape Everest’s Marine platform in Canada.

• Lead the launch, development, and expansion of Everest’s Marine underwriting business in Canada, in close collaboration with local leadership and global Marine product leadership.

• Develop and execute a profitable underwriting strategy aligned with Everest’s risk appetite, growth objectives, and long-term portfolio goals.

• Build, manage, and optimize a balanced Marine portfolio, maintaining strict underwriting discipline while driving sustainable growth across market cycles.

• Underwrite complex Marine risks within assigned authority and provide referrals and recommendations for risks exceeding authority levels.

• Assist in the development and ongoing enhancement of underwriting guidelines, pricing methodologies, and product offerings to ensure market competitiveness.

• Strengthen and expand relationships with key Marine brokers, cultivating new partnerships where aligned with the strategic business plan.

• Develop and execute targeted marketing and distribution strategies to support portfolio growth and brand positioning.

• Partner closely with Claims, Risk Management, Actuarial, Operations, and other internal stakeholders to support portfolio performance and effective risk management.

• Participate in account reviews, portfolio analysis, and peer underwriting review processes to ensure consistency and best practices.

• Monitor regulatory, compliance, and market developments impacting Marine underwriting and ensure adherence to all applicable requirements.

• Recruit, develop, and lead Marine underwriting talent as the business grows, fostering high performance and professional development.

• Represent Everest in relevant industry associations and forums, promoting the Everest brand and technical expertise.

• Full accountability for the performance of the Canadian Marine portfolio, including growth, profitability, and underwriting quality.

• Ownership of Marine underwriting strategy, appetite definition, and execution across the Canadian market.

• Contribution to enhancing management information systems, underwriting tools, rating models, and operational processes related to Marine business.

• Coordination with other specialty underwriting teams to support cross-sell opportunities and broader client penetration strategies.

• Ensure all underwriting activity complies with Everest’s underwriting standards, governance frameworks, and internal controls.

• Demonstrates the highest standards of integrity and fully embodies Everest’s values and culture.

• Minimum 10–15 years of progressive commercial underwriting experience, with deep specialization and recognized expertise in Marine insurance.

• Extensive knowledge of the Canadian Marine insurance market, including established distribution relationships with leading Marine brokers.

• Proven ability to lead strategy development and translate strategic objectives into actionable, profitable underwriting plans.

• Strong understanding of Marine portfolios across insurance cycles, including exposure management and pricing dynamics.

• Technically strong underwriter with the credibility to engage confidently with brokers, clients, senior leadership, and regulators.

• Collaborative leader who builds alignment across geographies and business functions.

• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and persuasively.

• Demonstrated bias for action, strong sense of ownership, and results-driven mindset.

• Willingness to travel within Canada and occasionally to London/Europe to support business objectives and stakeholder engagement.

The base salary range for this position is CAD 150,000 - CAD 200,000 annually. The offered rate of compensation will be based on individual education, experience, qualifications and work location. All offers include access to a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, retirement savings plan, paid holidays and paid time off (PTO).  This position is a current vacancy.

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