Everest Re adds to risk management team

Everest Re Group has added two new members to its risk management underwriting team. Jeff Benzin has joined Everest Insurance as vice president and head of the Midwest Region and John Romano joins as a vice president.

Benzin was formerly at Avant Underwriters, where he had worked since February 2016 as vice president of Alternative Risk. Prior to that, he spent over 20 years at Zurich North America, where he held a variety of roles of increasing responsibility, most recently as nationwide leader of their transportation underwriting unit. Benzin will be based in the Everest Insurance Chicago office and reports directly to Dave Sandler, head of the Everest Insurance Risk Management Group.

Romano joins from XL Insurance Group, where he had worked since June 2011 as an AVP & senior underwriter in their Global Risk Management unit, first in Chicago and then later in Denver. Prior to that, John spent seven years at Zurich, where he also handled large account casualty business as part of their global corporate underwriting unit. Romano will be based in Denver, Colorado and will be responsible for developing business in both the Midwest Region, as well as locally in Denver.  He will report to Benzin

"We are pleased to add both Jeff Benzin and John Romano to our underwriting team in the Midwest,” said Sandler. “Jeff is a highly regarded, thoughtful leader, and a sound underwriting technician. John also comes to us with a strong reputation for both his underwriting and client management capabilities. Their industry relationships and reputations will be an asset to Everest as we continue to build our Risk Management operation in the Midwest Region. Together with Jon Turnroth, we have built a formidable team in that geography.”