Schmidt Named SVP and Regional Executive Officer for ACE’s Northeast Region

ACE USA, the U.S.-based retail operations of the ACE Group, named Mitchell Schmidt senior vice president and regional executive officer for ACE USA’s Northeast Region.

Schmidt, who will be based in Boston, will be responsible for setting and driving the overall strategic direction for the Northeast region. He will work collaboratively with the Northeast regional team to oversee all business development, retention and underwriting activities, establish distribution strategies and service delivery to middle and large account commercial customers. Schmidt will report to Ed Zaccaria, division president, ACE USA Regional Operations.

Karen Sothern, who has served as senior vice president and regional executive officer for ACE USA’s Northeast Region since 2002, will assume a new global role as change management officer for Acquisitions, for the ACE Group reporting to Evan G. Greenberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, ACE Limited.

“The Northeast regional market represents significant growth opportunities for ACE. Mitch has been instrumental in the ongoing development of ACE USA’s custom casualty and renewable energy businesses. His excellent track record and leadership will be an asset in overseeing our Northeast team and delivering additional value to our clients and brokers in the region,” said Mr. Zaccaria. “I would also like to acknowledge Karen’s outstanding leadership and dedication in establishing ACE’s position in the Northeast region for nearly a decade.”

With more than 15 years in the insurance industry, Schmidt most recently served as senior vice president and national underwriting manager of ACE USA’s Custom Casualty & Public Entity Units. He has held several senior underwriting positions at ACE, including serving as western zone manager, with responsibility for the excess liability and custom casualty product offerings for five of the nine ACE USA regions.

Schmidt joined ACE in 2003 from Chubb Insurance Group, where he held several branch and regional casualty management and underwriting positions, including midwest regional excess casualty manager.

Source: ACE USA