The Business Insurance Women to Watch awards program highlights the achievements of female leaders in the insurance sector to celebrate their success and promote gender diversity in the industry.
Now in its 15th year, the program has recognized hundreds of insurance and risk management professionals who had made their mark and were set to go on to even greater accomplishments.
The 2020 Women to Watch winners are no different. Coming from a broad range of backgrounds and representing nearly every aspect of the industry, the honorees include numerous executives who have worked hard for their own success and for the success of others, too.
Many are already role models to their colleagues and business partners, and their stories should encourage people across the sector.
The winner of our Inspiration Award, which recognizes the career of an outstanding female leader, is Inga Beale, whose many achievements in the industry include being the first woman to head Lloyd’s of London (see related story).
The 2020 Women to Watch were selected through a rigorous nomination process. Beginning in June, we sought nominations detailing information on nominees’ expertise, leadership qualities and achievements. We received about 400 nominations, all of which were reviewed by Business Insurance editorial staff. Finalists were selected after two rounds of judging. After we reviewed the nominations, read written references and spoke with other references, we named 20 winners from Europe, the Middle East and Africa and 30 from North America and the rest of the world.
Due to the limitations imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, in lieu of our regular live awards events in New York and London, this year we organized Women to Watch Virtual Awards & Leadership Conferences for both North America and EMEA. To learn more about the events, click here.
Meanwhile, we hope you enjoy reading the profiles of all our 2020 winners in the following pages.
Gavin Souter, editor
Virna Alexander Rhodes
Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.
Johnte’ Archer
J. Archer Insurance Group
Preeti Asthana
Aon PLC
Martha Bane
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Danette Beck
USI Insurance Services LLC
Ashleigh Cashman
International Catastrophe Insurance Managers LLC, a unit of Victor Insurance Holdings
Elaine Coffman
Lockton Cos. LLC
Ingrid Cook
SHzoom It LLC
Courtney Davis Curtis
University of Chicago
Amy Evans
Intercare Holdings Inc.
Erin Fry
Munich Re Specialty Insurance, a unit of Munich Reinsurance Group
Catrina Gilbert
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Donna Glenn
National Council on Compensation Insurance
Susan Gonzales
American International Group Inc.
Reema Hammoud
Sedgwick Claims Management Services Inc.
Heidi Hull
FM Global
Dana Lodge
Everest Insurance, a unit of Everest Re Group Ltd.
Megan Miller
Spencer Educational Foundation
Diane Mittenzwei
Risk Strategies Co. Inc.
Lan Nguyen
BioMed Realty
Vasantha Prammagnanam
CorVel Corp.
Kim Riley
Hylant Group Inc.
Sharon Robinson
Zurich North America
Shannon Stefanski
R-T Specialty LLC
Christina Terplan
Atheria Law P.C.
Rhonda Tobin
Robinson & Cole LLP
Michele Twyman
Chubb Ltd.
Christina Welch
FCCI Insurance Group
Juliet White
Axa XL, a unit of Axa SA
Julie Wood
Marsh LLC
Lisa Bartlett
Crawford & Co.
Andrea Best
McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP
Hande Bilgisu
Marsh LLC
Melissa Boyars
Generali Group
Elizabeth Carbonaro
Willis Towers Watson PLC
Nina Duft
American International Group Inc.
Sophia Dunér
Aon Reinsurance Solutions
Ana Franco de Sarabia
Sedgwick Claims Management Services Inc.
Jackie Hyde
Stanmore Insurance Brokers Ltd.
Victoria Jewell
McLarens Global Ltd.
Tracy-Lee Kus
Aon PLC
Vered Lobel
American International Group UK Ltd.
Kera McDonald
Swiss Re Corporate Solutions
Melanie O’Neill
Liberty Specialty Markets
Nilay Ozden
Marsh Ltd.
Petra Riga
Zurich Insurance Group
Linda Ryan
Everest Re Group Ltd.
Kay Smith
THB Group, a unit of AmWINS Group Inc.
Connie Tregidga
QBE Insurance Group Ltd.
Beatriz Valenti
Zurich Insurance Group
Accepting her first promotion proved to be one of the most defining moments of Inga Beale’s career in the insurance industry, which spanned nearly four decades, culminating in her being the first woman to lead Lloyd’s of London.