FCAS - November 2005
Candidate Information
Education:
B.A. Mathematics and French, Hobart & William Smith Colleges
Current Employment:
Principal, Ernst & Young (EY)
Leader of EY’s Core Insurance and Actuarial Advisory Services (IAAS) Practice
CAS Activities and Publications:
Examination Committee, Grading and Writing Exam 6US, May 2007
Examination Committee, Vice Chair Exam 6US, 2011 – 2012
Examination Committee, Chair Exam 6US, 2013 – 2015
Examination Committee, General Officer, 2015 to present
Financial Reporting through the Lens of an Actuary, 2014
Board of Directors, 2019-2022
Discipline Committee, Member, 2024 to present
Regular speaker at CAS events on Actuarial Opinion and professionalism topics, including CLRS workshops and concurrent sessions
Other Actuarial Organizations:
American Academy of Actuaries, Committee on Property & Liability Financial Reporting (COPLFR), Member, 2012 - 2015
American Academy of Actuaries, COPLFR, Chair of the 2015 - 2016 P/C Practice Note Subcommittee
American Academy of Actuaries, COPLFR, Vice Chair, 2016 - 2017
American Academy of Actuaries, COPLFR, Chair, 2018 – 2020
American Academy of Actuaries, Seminar on Effective Property & Casualty Actuarial Opinions, Faculty Member, 2013 to present
The Actuarial Foundation, Trustee, 2017 - 2022
International Actuarial Association, Communications Subcommittee, Member, 2020 to present
American Academy of Actuaries, Casualty Practice Council, Vice Chair, 2023 to present
Other Professional Designations:
Member of the American Academy of Actuaries, 1995
Employment History - Prior Employers:
Ernst & Young (EY), July 1989 to present
Membership and Activities in Other Organizations:
American Academy of Actuaries
Civic Activities:
Trustee, Dedham Country Day School, 2011 - 2021
Trustee, The Actuarial Foundation, 2017 – 2022
Board Member, Heron Society, William Smith College, 2023 to present
Other Publications:
Led complete overhaul of the American Academy of Actuaries’ Practice Note on Statements of Actuarial Opinion on Property and Casualty Loss Reserves in 2015
Awards and Recognitions:
American Academy of Actuaries, Recipient, Award for Outstanding Volunteerism, 2016
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Inductee into the William Smith Hall of Honor (Field Hockey & Lacrosse), 2022
My over 35-year career is coming full circle in a meaningful way, having joined my firm the same year that my first boss, Chuck Bryan, was elected to serve as CAS President. I am privileged to follow in his footsteps and carry forward his mission. In his 1991 Presidential Address, when the CAS was 77 years old and 1,809 members strong, he said: “I am convinced we must do the following:
- Become fully committed to the global viewpoint …
- Adopt the attitude that actuaries should actively guide the insurance mechanism…
- Demand more of ourselves, and then demand even more…We, you and I, are the only people that can save our profession from the atrophy that always threatens success. You and I must do it – no one else can, no one else will.”
We embraced Chuck’s call to action, growing sixfold to over 10,000 members worldwide since I began my career. Today, we serve a diverse global community of general insurance actuaries, employers, academics, and students to solve global insurance and risk management challenges and drive well-informed strategic decisions.
Building relationships is the core of who I am; it is what drives me. Leading global actuarial engagements at my firm has allowed me to collaborate with professionals across the world, expanding my perspective and refining my ability to deliver solutions. This experience has shaped me as an actuary and leader, reinforcing my passion for advancing the CAS through outreach, deeper connections, and a growing membership that brings fresh insights to our profession.
I am eager to dedicate my time and energy to fostering growth and resilience in our profession amid ongoing change. My track record through professional service, leadership within my firm and global clients, and the privilege of raising three remarkable children into accomplished young adults (two while earning my FCAS), reflects my dedication, work ethic, commitment to balance, and ability to lead.
I am fully committed to the CAS vision and strategic plan, bringing extensive leadership experience across my firm, the CAS, and the actuarial profession. I strive to lead with a member-first mindset, prioritizing collaboration, transparency, and timely communication.
- People-Centric Leadership
As a partner in a global consulting firm, head of my firm’s core U.S. actuarial practice, and leader of some of EY’s largest global actuarial engagements, I understand that people are the greatest asset of any organization. Colin Powell’s leadership philosophy resonates deeply with me:
“Leadership is all about people. It is not about organizations. It is not about plans. It is not about strategies. It is all about people-motivating people to get the job done. You have to be people-centered.”
I embrace a people-centered leadership style, valuing diverse perspectives, encouraging dialogue, and making informed decisions. While I appreciate hearing all viewpoints, I also recognize when decisive action is necessary.
- Commitment to Professional Standards
The actuarial profession is privileged to be self-regulating, governed by our own standards and discipline processes. Maintaining this standing requires constantly keeping our Code top of mind and upholding our deep commitment to integrity.
I have earned a reputation for professionalism and high standards through my leadership roles. Before leading EY’s core actuarial practice, I served as Quality Director, collaborating with firm leaders in independence and risk management while hosting quarterly webcasts on quality topics and actuarial standards. I have also spoken on professionalism at external conferences, most recently as guest speaker at the CAS Course of Professionalism.
I do not shy away from tough conversations or decisions. I strive to listen attentively and ground decisions in facts, always guided by integrity and a commitment to do the right thing.
- Results-Oriented Approach
With a strong focus on client service and execution, particularly in my role as Appointed Actuary for U.S. legal entities of global insurers, I have consistently demonstrated my ability to tackle challenges, drive resolution, and deliver results.
My ability to execute effectively is also evidenced in leading a complete overhaul of the COPLFR Practice Note on Property and Casualty Loss Reserve Opinions and serving as lead author for an over 500-page textbook for CAS Exam 6US.
I will bring these leadership qualities and experience to the role of President-Elect, ensuring continued growth and progress for our profession.
While the CAS has made continued to make remarkable strides since I became a student, we cannot rest on past achievements. We are at an exciting yet pivotal time for the profession as technological advancements, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), serve to unlock new opportunities to revolutionize how we model, price and reserve risks. These advancements allow us to analyze vast data sets more efficiently than ever before, enabling us to ask deeper questions, provide richer insights, and tackle more complex problems.
As President, I want to ensure we embrace and adapt to the evolving environment so that technology continues to enhance, rather than supplant, the actuarial expertise and learned wisdom that define our profession. Status quo is not an option. We must stay ahead of change, proactively shaping the future for our current and future members.
Guiding the CAS through the recently enacted 2025 Strategic Plan will be critical, especially in the key pillars Building Skills for the Future and Reinforcing Our Differentiated Brand. We must continue strengthening our position as the world’s only property-casualty focused actuarial credentialing organization. By effectively communicating our technical expertise and knowledge of risk, we can extend our impact to beyond insurance.
To match these technological advances and growing demand, our educational process must continue to evolve, equipping professionals with advanced technical expertise to validate emerging methodologies and technology, analytical acumen to interpret data and trends and more accurately model the future, and communication skills essential for clearly and effectively conveying insights and driving informed decisions.
At the same time, the credentialing experience is fundamental to our profession; it must be exceptional for candidates, built on trust, streamlined to eliminate unnecessary barriers and inapplicable knowledge, and designed to prepare them for an uncertain future.
While it is essential to remain dedicated to the priorities and expectations of core members locally, we have a tremendous opportunity to strengthen our organization by embracing diversity of thought and continuing to expand membership outside of North America. My own experiences working for a global firm have profoundly shaped my approach, and I look forward to advancing this vision with enthusiasm.
The CAS stands strong, built on a trusted brand, a highly engaged membership, and the financial flexibility to invest in the future. At this meaningful moment in the history of our profession, I bring the experience, judgment, dedication, and strategic vision necessary to lead our great organization.
