Lex names Chmieleski to new position of head of professional lines

AIG’s E&S platform Lexington Insurance has promoted Susan Chmieleski to the newly created position of head of professional lines in a move that will see her have oversight of the carrier’s healthcare, architects and engineers, and LexPro businesses.

In an internal memo from Lexington president and CEO Lou Levinson seen by this publication, the insurer said Chmieleski will also be responsible for executing a “consistent strategy” across professional lines, driving underwriting alignment, process efficiency and growth.

“Sue’s appointment reflects Lexington’s strong talent and our commitment to building a best-in-class team. Sue is a highly regarded industry professional with a proven track record leading professional lines teams and delivering transformative change,” said Levinson.

“Her deep expertise and market relationships will help us continue to lead the professional lines landscape as the market of choice,” he added.

The executive will report directly to Levinson. She joined the insurer in 2018 as head of Lexington healthcare and is a former healthcare industry leader at Willis Towers Watson and president of the North American healthcare division and US professional lines division at Allied World.

Lexington said that Bob Rogers, head of architects and engineers, and Julia Keenan, head of LexPro, will continue in their leadership roles, reporting to Chmieleski.

Sources said Chmieleski is expected to continue to hold the head of Lexington healthcare position in the short term in addition to her new responsibilities.

As previously revealed by this publication, LexPro was launched earlier this year as Lexington entered the wholesale-only management liability space with Keenan and a team of underwriters.

Lexington has switched its focus from a retail to wholesale model and Levinson and has repositioned to target small to middle-market business and less of the large complex risk accounts it had written in the past, at the same time as slashing limits and pushing hard on price.

AIG declined to comment on this article.