People Moves: Topa in California Names Lay Director of Programs; Newfront Adds Pierce

Lay will be responsible for managing Topa Insurance’s program partners and overseeing the program business profitability.

Lay has experience in project management, new product development, product enhancement, coverage and statistical analysis and ratemaking.

Lay was most recently senior product manager at Farmers Insurance. Previous roles at Farmers Insurance include director, senior product manager, and actuary. Lay has also held roles at Swiss Re and Perr & Knight.

Topa is a wholly owned subsidiary of Topa Insurance Group, a boutique insurance holding company based in Calabasas, Calif., that provides wholesale insurance solutions.

Newfront in San Francisco, California, named Phil Pierce chief growth officer.

Pierce joins Newfront from Lockton Cos., where he was chief operating officer in the Pacific North.

Pierce spent 15 years at Lockton in various financial lines and executive leadership roles.

He was promoted to COO in January 2020. He previously spent time as an attorney focusing on civil litigation and insurance defense.

Headquartered in San Francisco, Newfront has offices throughout California, Washington, Illinois and New York.

Topics California