“I fell in love with risk management and the insurance industry. Just this past year, I was given the opportunity to be the CEO of Spencer Re, so this role is my first in the reinsurance space, and I love the challenge that it brings.”
Name:
Company: Spencer Re Job:
Tina Youngblood CEO
Timeline: 2014—CEO, Spencer Re 2014—CEO, Cunningham Lindsey 2013—COO, Cunningham Lindsey 2012—President, programs & direct markets, Zurich North America 2010—Executive vice president, head of direct markets, Zurich North America 2008—Executive vice president, head of construction services programs, Zurich North America
Tina Youngblood is CEO of Spencer Re, a specialist auto reinsurer based in Puerto Rico and vice chair of Spencer Capital Holdings. Prior to her appointment in 2014, Youngblood worked at Cunningham Lindsey as US CEO. Before working for Cunningham Lindsey, Youngblood worked
at Zurich Insurance Group for more than 10 years where she was the first woman to lead the largest business unit for Zurich in North America. As president of programmes & direct markets (P&DM) for Zurich North America Commercial, she was responsible for over 800 people across the US.
Why did you choose to work in this industry initially? I followed a mentor into the insurance industry 13 years ago. My first career was in academia—I was an accounting professor at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. When I received tenure, I went on sabbatical and worked at Pricewaterhouse Coopers in New York. They made me an offer to work in the CEO’s office, so I gave up tenure and decided to take a risk and try something completely new. When the CEO at PwC retired, he became the global CEO of Zurich Insurance. I was honoured that he asked me to join him in the corporate headquarters. I fell in love with risk management and the insurance industry. Just this past year, I was given the opportunity to be the CEO of
www.intelligentinsurer.com
Spencer Re, so this role is my first in the reinsurance space, and I love the challenge that it brings.
What has been the highlight of your career so far? In 2010, I was asked to run a division of Zurich that focused on the automotive industry. The $1 billion business was in need of a financial and cultural turnaround. Assembling the management team that led the business into a complete turnaround in less than 18 months is a true highlight of my career. It was the most challenging role and the most rewarding role I’ve had. I really enjoy building high performing teams and then watching them solve problems together.
What has been the biggest challenge you have
encountered? I think the biggest challenge for me was when I first entered the insurance industry because I didn’t have underwriting experience, and I was often second guessed and questioned because I had never underwritten a policy. Breaking stereotypes, whether they be gender related or industry related, has been a challenge, but I have been successful in overcoming those challenges, so as I reflect on them, I now see them as learning opportunities.
If you had chosen a different profession/career path, what would it have been? I always wanted to be a news anchor. I like interviewing people, finding out what makes them unique and getting to the heart of issues. If I could have my own business show on CNBC, I’d be in heaven.
2015 | INTELLIGENT INSURER | 109
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109