People Moves: Great American P&C Promotes Cohen, Kadnar; Markel Adds Hiscox’s Wakeham as U.S. Terrorism Underwriter

Great American Insurance Group has promoted Jason M. Cohen to senior vice president and Julie F. Kadnar to divisional group president within its Property & Casualty Group.

In 2006, Cohen joined the company as divisional vice president within Corporate Claims. In 2008, he transitioned to Strategic Comp, a business unit focused on workers’ compensation insurance, where he held positions of increasing responsibility. Cohen has served as divisional president of Strategic Comp since 2017 and as a divisional reporting officer since October 2020. He will now assume additional reporting responsibilities for the Specialty Human Services Division and Great American’s Loss Control department.

Kadnar joined the company in 1988 as an auditor. In 1991, she transitioned to the Product Data Compliance department of the company, where she served as divisional senior vice president. In 2004, Kadnar joined the Property & Inland Marine Division and has held various leadership roles of increasing responsibility. She was promoted to divisional president in 2017 and will continue to serve in this role, with the additional responsibilities of overseeing the Ocean Marine Division and the Dempsey & Siders Insurance Agency.

Markel Names Wakeham to North America Terrorism Risk Post

Markel International has hired Ben Wakeham as senior war and terrorism underwriter and head of terrorism, North America.

The new arrival marks Markel International’s entry into the U.S. war and terrorism market. Wakeham will be responsible for leading a team in the U.S., which will allow the organization to serve clients locally.

Reporting to Ed Winter, senior underwriter and head of terrorism at Markel International, Wakeham will be based at Markel’s London office for 12 months, before moving to the U.S. next year.

Previously, Wakeham was employed as assistant vice president and head of property and terrorism at Hiscox USA, Los Angeles, where he managed the terrorism portfolio to be one of the largest in the market. He also provided leadership and mentoring to Hiscox’s national team of underwriters.

Topics Catastrophe USA Natural Disasters Underwriting Property Casualty