Upland welcomes new chief underwriting officer

Upland Capital Group, Inc. (Upland), a specialty property and casualty insurer, has introduced that Kate Walas has been promoted to chief underwriting officer. 

James Damonte, the president of Upland’s insurance coverage operations will proceed to be Upland’s president of insurance coverage operations whereas overseeing all the underwriting and claims operations of the agency. Commenting on Walas’ promotion, Damonte stated her expertise will likely be important within the development of the insurer.

“Kate embodies the ‘we-entrepreneur’ mindset that’s our mission right here at Upland,” he stated. “Her expertise founding Indigo Specialty Underwriters and confirmed success managing a number of product strains makes her uniquely certified to information Upland’s underwriting operations as we proceed to advertise operational efficiencies, underwriting governess and danger adherence inside our product groups,” he stated additional.

Who’s Kate Walas?

Walas has over 18 years of expertise inside the insurance coverage trade. Previous to her promotion, Walas served as Upland’s senior vp, skilled legal responsibility underwriting. Earlier than becoming a member of Upland, she was the chief underwriting officer at Indigo Specialty Underwriters. She beforehand labored for Twin North America as its senior vp, cyber underwriting earlier than turning into its EVP division chief {of professional} legal responsibility.

Walas had additionally taken on the position of vp, head of cyber and MPL underwriting operations at AXA XL in addition to varied positions in XL Catlin comparable to underwriting supervisor, monetary strains; world packages underwriting supervisor; and vp, world skilled underwriting.

She first started her profession as a specialty strains underwriter, transportation at Northland/Vacationers Insurance coverage. Walas acquired her Bachelor of Arts diploma in political science on the College of Connecticut.