FEATURES
COVER STORY: YOUNG GUNS FRANCIS JOHNSON JR. Vice president, personal lines JOHNSON & JOHNSON, INC. Age: 27
After graduating from the University of South Carolina, Francis Johnson spent two and half years moving around the world, gaining insurance experience in many different segments of the industry. He spent time in London, Arizona and Bermuda, where he was able to work with both domestic and international primary insurers and reinsurers. Now vice president of personal lines at Johnson & Johnson, he oversees five departments and more than $150 million in premium. Johnson is responsible for the strategic direction of Johnson & Johnson’s personal lines division, which has continued to grow under his leadership.
ALYSSA GUERRIERI Underwriting manager NAUTILUS INSURANCE GROUP Age: 30
TOPHER FYLAK Commercial P&C underwriting manager NATIONWIDE E&S/SPECIALTY Age: 32
Despite growing up in a “claims world” where both of his parents worked in the claims business, Topher Fylak initially knew very little about the insurance industry. But after he was selected to attend a formal underwriter training program, Fylak quickly became fascinated with the industry and E&S underwriting. Today, he leads a team of 11 underwriters and assistants who underwrite commercial E&S business for more than 20 MGAs in the Southeast region. Since taking the helm, Fylak has increased his unit’s staff to support premium growth of more than 27% while reducing loss ratios by more than four points, leading to his team to score in the 92nd percentile for engagement in the Nationwide organization. A former attendee of NAPSLO School and the AAMGA Under Forty Organization Leadership Education Program, Fylak pays it forward by mentoring new associates in the field. “I enjoy the development of associates by continuing to be a mentor for new underwriters and being asked to facilitate training classes and participate in interview panels for different internal leadership programs,” he says.
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Since she started in the insurance industry in 2007 with Zurich Insurance Group, Alyssa Guerrieri has held a variety of positions in marketing, sales and underwriting for both carriers and agencies, all of which have contributed to and shaped her professional growth, broadened her perspective and given her a well-rounded understanding of what makes the E&S market so dynamic. By challenging herself to face the unfamiliar and seize new opportunities, Guerrieri embraces change and new experiences as they arise. Skilled at cultivating strong relationships with her agents, Guerrieri contributed to the double-digit percentage growth of her assigned book of business in 2015 by marketing for unique business opportunities, hosting educational webinars to clarify company risk appetite and finding creative ways to underwrite risk.