Claims People: Sedgwick, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty and Philadelphia Insurance

Sedgwick Promotes Tech Leader

Sedgwick has appointed Leah Cooper as global chief digital officer, a new position.

Cooper will lead Sedgwick’s technology research and development efforts and collaborate across business lines to advance the company’s transformation strategy, the Memphis-based claims administrator said in a press release.

Sedgwick said Cooper is a widely recognized expert in the claims technology field. She most recently served as the company’s managing director of global consumer technology. Prior to that, she was vice president and senior vice president of information technology applications.

Cooper joined Sedgwick in 2014 when the company acquired Absentys, a software development and service provider that assisted employers comply with federal and state leave and accommodation regulations. Cooper was a co-founder of the company.

Cooper early last year assembled a team to develop and put to use generative artificial intelligence. Cooper was also instrumental in launching Sedgwick’s ChatGPT tool, Sidekick.

“Leah brings a fresh, out-of-the-box perspective to every project and works seamlessly with numerous teams and stakeholders to deliver key strategic solutions,” stated Jason Landrum, global chief information officer for Sedgwick. “She has proven her capabilities time and time again and inspires everyone around her.”

Cooper holds a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and recently earned a Certificate of Specialization in Entrepreneurship Innovation from Harvard Business School Online.

Berkshire Hathaway Announces Promotions, New Hire

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance announced two promotions and one new addition to its North American claims team.

Courtney Koch was promoted to senior vice president, healthcare and casualty claims. Kathryn Ridenour was promoted to senior vice president, professional and construction claims. Also, BHSI hired Anthony Pizzonia as vice president, healthcare claims.

Koch, who is based in New York, was previously vice president, healthcare and casualty claims at BHSI. She joined the company nearly a decade ago as senior complex claims examiner before being promoted to assistant vice president and then vice president. She is an attorney and has 17 years of claims experience.

Ridenour was previously vice president, architects & engineers and contractor’s protective professional claims at BHSI. She joined the company in 2020 as assistant vice president, CPPI and has nearly two decades experience managing specialty architects and engineers claims while also assuming responsibility for construction claims. She is based in Boston.

Philadelphia Insurance Promotes 2 VPs

Philadelphia Insurance Cos. has prompted Kimberly Czap and Douglas Killeen, both vice presidents, to senior vice president positions.

Czap joined PHLY as vice president of surety claims in 2013. She was tasked with providing legal counsel to surety underwriting and building a team of claim construction professionals for a surety division that was launched in 2011, the company said in a press release.

Czap is a vice chair of the American Bar Association Fidelity & Surety Law General Committee, a board member of the Surety Claims Institute and National Bond Claims Association, and a committee member for the Surety Fidelity Association of America. She is also a frequent presenter at industry conferences, PHLY said.

Killeen has held a wide variety of roles in the insurance industry during a 30-year career, the company said. He was an underwriting manager, regional underwriting director, field underwriting assistant vice president and most recently vice president of underwriting.