Admiral Announces New National Leadership Positions to Drive Greater Efficiency and Ensure Powerful Results
New leadership alignment forms the foundation of companywide strategy to streamline business processes and enhance service.
Admiral Insurance Group, a Berkley Company providing wholesale-dedicated excess and surplus lines commercial insurance, recently announced a strategic realignment of its leadership structure that will allow the company to more strongly focus on and integrate its experts, products and processes in order to deliver exceptional solutions that address the changing needs of the niche markets it serves. The changes center on the evolved responsibilities of three Admiral executive leaders who have respected experience and influence at the company as well as in the industry.
The realignment is structured to maximize resources by formalizing Admiral’s business processes into three spheres. Each of these spheres will be managed and overseen by a proven leader, each of whom have long and distinguished leadership careers at Admiral and will now take on expanded responsibilities to implement our new approach. Dan Smyrl, ASLI, AU, will oversee all production for the organization as executive vice president of underwriting. Leah Taylor, RPLU, ASLI, will become senior vice president of product management. Erich W. Bublitz, CPCU, ASLI, will lead the third sphere as senior vice president of operations.
“In an industry as dynamic as ours, success depends on the ability to respond quickly, effectively and oftentimes creatively,” said Curtis E. Fletcher, CPCU, president of Admiral Insurance Group. “Dan, Leah and Erich have demonstrated exceptional expertise and leadership, especially in the face of unprecedented challenges brought on by everything ranging from economic fluctuations to societal unrest to the current pandemic. Their exceptional knowledge of and dedicated attention to our people, products and processes will ensure we maintain an integrated, results-oriented team of underwriting and claims experts who remain focused on exceeding our brokers’ needs.”
Smyrl began his career with Admiral in 2002 and previously served as the company’s senior vice president of casualty. A 35-year insurance veteran with experience in various positions in underwriting and marketing, Smyrl is recognized by Admiral’s wholesale broker customers, his peers and his team as the consummate professional. His leadership ability combined with his strong customer focus has resulted in Admiral being known as a preeminent E&S provider.
Taylor has spent her entire insurance career as part of the Admiral family—beginning in 1994 with an entry level position. Since that time, she has continually and eagerly moved up the ranks, taking on roles with increasing responsibility and distinguishing herself for her ability to integrate excellence in relationship-building with Admiral’s wholesale broker partners with a consistent development of her expertise in professional liability.
Heading into the new position of senior vice president of operations, Bublitz has more than a decade of experience in the insurance industry, with a highly valued focus on emerging risks, including cyber, technology, media and cannabis. He has developed his experience and honed his specialties through positions held in both the U.S. and Europe. Bublitz currently serves as Admiral’s vice president of cannabis underwriting and chief compliance officer.