FEATURES
SPECIAL REPORT MANAGEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY
DOUG FLAKE Senior vice president BROWN & RIDING
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
VIVIANE KRIEFWOODCOCK
Having analyzed and designed effective insurance solutions for almost 30 years, Doug Flake specializes in directors & officers, errors & omissions and employment practices liability insurance coverages, with a book of business that includes E&O for venture capitalists, private equity firms and financial
institutions. His expertise has enabled him to aid venture capitalists, investment bankers and merchant bankers in addressing the unique exposures posed by dealing with leveraged buyouts, internet commerce and raising capital (including public and private debt and equity offerings). In addition, Flake has significant experience working with complex securities claims. Flake began his insurance career underwriting and managing multimilliondollar D&O and ERISA portfolios throughout the western United States. Prior to these endeavors, he worked as a commercial analyst at a financial institution.
President, RT Workers’ Comp Specialty, a division of International Facilities Insurance Services RT SPECIALTY
Viviane Krief-Woodcock’s special expertise in underwriting marine and energy-related accounts has helped foster a strong underwriting background for large complex accounts. In 1996, KriefWoodcock joined independent wholesaler International Facilities Insurance and established a workers’ comp division that grew to hold one of the largest wholesale production books in the country. Krief-Woodcock became president of RT Specialty’s workers’ comp division after it acquired International Facilities Insurance. There, she has been responsible for the development and growth of a workers’ comp platform that has placed more than $400 million in written premium. She has built extensive partnerships with numerous top-rated carriers, providing an array of solutions to address the challenges facing the workers’ comp market. “There is an abundance of new capital coming into the marketplace with no legacy issues, putting tremendous pricing strain on existing carriers that have been offering this coverage for many years,” she says. “Differentiating carriers based on the level of service they offer and the stability they provide becomes much more of a challenge as pricing becomes more depressed.”
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PROFESSIONAL AND CYBER LIABILITY
TYLER O’CONNOR Broker CRC GROUP
As cyber liability continues to evolve and mature, Tyler O’Connor’s clients can always count on him for up-to-date advice on the latest risks and product
AUTO HAULERS
CYNDI JOHNSTON Producer/broker AAU: ALLIED AMERICAN UNDERWRITERS
A 31-year veteran of the insurance industry, Cyndi Johnston started her
offerings. “He is a student of his craft and a valued resource when I am prospecting and retaining clients,” one retail partner says. “His professionalism and expertise bring credibility to my practice.” A broker with CRC Group and co-director of its cyber and technology practice group, O’Connor is also a member of CRC’s healthcare practice group and the CRC Swett Broker Council.
career working at retail agencies in various roles before transitioning into an MGA position, working with transportation and garage risks. In 2005, Johnston went to work for a carrier’s auto hauler program, where she became an expert in the field. Today at AAU, a division of USG Insurance Services, she uses her previous expertise to help place tough risks for auto haulers. Her background has given Johnston the ability to recognize the types of violations and operations that increase exposure for auto haulers, and she continues to grow that knowledge today in her role at AAU. Johnston says a major challenge in the auto hauler segment is finding qualified drivers. “These drivers have to know how to haul autos specifically, which is much different than hauling a dry van or reefer trailer,” she says. “A big challenge is verifying that these drivers have the experience required before offering coverage.”
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