Location(s)
Chicago, Illinois
DetailsSVP, Chief Claims Officer
Position Summary Responsible for the strategic leadership, operational excellence, and financial performance of the Claims organization within a specialty auto insurance carrier. Oversees all aspects of claims handling, including liability, physical damage, litigation, SIU (Special Investigations Unit), and vendor management, with a strong emphasis on managing severity, controlling loss costs, and delivering fair, timely outcomes for policyholders.
The CCO plays a critical role in shaping claims philosophy for complex and high-risk auto segments, balancing customer experience, regulatory compliance, and profitability.
Key Responsibilities- Develop and execute the overall claims strategy aligned with corporate objectives, underwriting appetite, and growth goals in specialty auto segments. Establish claims best practices tailored to non-standard and specialty risks, including high-frequency/low-severity and complex liability exposures.
- Partner with underwriting, actuarial, and product teams to provide insights on loss trends, claims severity, and emerging risks (e.g., litigation trends, fraud patterns, social inflation).
- Lead end-to-end claims operations, including FNOL (First Notice of Loss), adjudication, subrogation, litigation management, and salvage. Drives continuous improvement in claims cycle time, accuracy, indemnity leakage, and expense management.
- Implement advanced analytics and automation to enhance claims decision-making and efficiency.
- Own claims P&L performance, including loss ratios, LAE (Loss Adjustment Expense), and reserving accuracy.
- Collaborate with actuarial teams on reserving methodologies and ensure adequacy of case reserves.
- Manage vendor relationships (TPAs, independent adjusters, legal counsel, repair networks) to optimize cost and performance.
- Develop strategies to manage complex and litigated claims, including bodily injury and attorney-represented cases.
- Lead anti-fraud strategy, including detection, investigation, and prevention of organized fraud rings and opportunistic fraud.
- Ensure strong SIU capabilities aligned with regulatory requirements.
- Ensure compliance with all state regulatory requirements, including claims handling standards and reporting obligations. Maintain strong internal controls and audit readiness. Engage with regulators, industry groups, and external stakeholders as needed.
- Build and lead a high-performing claims organization, including recruitment, development, and retention of top talent. Foster a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and ethical decision-making. Develop leadership bench strength and succession plans.
Qualifications- Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MBA, JD) preferred. Professional designations (CPCU, AIC, ARM) strongly preferred.
Experience- At least 15 years claims leadership experience in auto insurance, with significant exposure to specialty or non-standard segments.
- Proven track record managing large-scale claims operations and delivering improved loss ratios and operational efficiency.
- Deep expertise in bodily injury, litigation management, and claims analytics.
