Manager Construction

Lynn Alan Cordes

North Myrtle Beach, SC **********@*****.*** 843-***-**** ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Career Objective

Seeking executive, managerial or consulting position within the commercial insurance marketplace that utilizes my diverse technical underwriting, sales/marketing, and managerial skill sets developed over a 33 years career in the commercial insurance industry. Looking to capitalize on past specializations in the Captives/Alternative, Programs / MGA and / or Construction niche markets, for the benefit of future employer. Ability to start up, turn around or build upon an already significant operation as demonstrated by past accomplishments. Broad knowledge base of industry and strong knowledge base of all lines of commercial business makes me an exceptional candidate for a variety of permanent or consulting positions. Desired positions would include executive or managerial level underwriting or sales/marketing positions working on establishment and implementation of the organization's vision and strategic operating plans to drive achievement of top and bottom line results.

Career Summary

Highly disciplined and results-focused leader with a proven track record in developing and motivating high performance teams. Extensive experience at building comprehensive strategies – personally developed strategies that led to Zurich’s current “market leading” positions in group captives, construction and builders risk niche business units. Have consistently delivered exceptional P&L results throughout the market cycles consistently beating industry benchmarks. Possess a deep insurance knowledge across all business segments, lines of business and plan designs / pricing structures utilized in the commercial and alternative marketplace. Understand “how to maximize value” for the customer and create “win/win” situations for all parties involved in the deal. Recognized for listening to and working with distributors and customers to create innovative new solutions to foster business growth and retention. Have held both market facing and functional roles - running two major business units at Zurich, as well as held several senior level Home Office operational management roles in underwriting, marketing, product management, operations and systems / IT management. Have led numerous large scale operational transformations to grow business, drive down expenses and solve tough operational issues. Experienced in turning around weak performing operations as I did in my most recent Alternative Solution position and prior construction roles for Zurich. A loyal leader having worked at only two companies in my career prior to beginning consulting carrier.

Areas of Unique and Exceptional Expertise

-ART/Captives, Program Administrator (PA)/(MGA) Programs and Construction Market Segment Expert

- Personnel Development, Mentorship and Succession Planning

- Results Focused Leadership

- Strategic Planning and Project Management

- Operational / Technology expertise to major improvements in quality, service and expense reductions

- Customer & distributor management / relationship development

- Financial and P&L Management

- Underwriting Management and Technical Background

- Marketing, Distribution and Product Development / Management

Work Experience

Insurance Consulting North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina current

Support a variety of consultants, insurance carriers, insurance agencies and ART market

customers with advice and analytical based services focused on the captives and ART market as

well as broader insurance market.

CEO - Cordes Consulting current

Executive Vice President, Collins Consulting, Atlanta, Georgia 10/2010 – 1/2011

Zurich Schaumburg, Illinois and Baltimore, Maryland 1992 – 2010

President – Alternative Solutions Business Unit 1/2003 – 3/2010

Led turnaround of the now “market leading” Alternative markets business for Zurich. Grew from <$300 to peak of $701 million. Produced exceptional combined ratio results over period from low of 47% to high of 96%. Led a team of ~80 underwriting and support personnel managing all aspects of business and $30 million budget. Drove strategic efforts that introduced many new product and service offerings into the marketplace to grow business. Improved customer and broker relationships leading to increased retentions and premium growth. Led market outreach efforts focused on expanding distribution sources while also respecting existing distribution partners. Also responsible for $210 million profit center focused on “guaranteed cost programs“ business with PA/MGA partners where we created new $40 million profit center focused on religious niche.

Zurich Construction Business Unit - created strategic plan document that led to the creation of Zurich’s Construction SBU in 1993. Held a variety of executive level positions noted below all supporting Zurich’s development into the “market leader” with GWP of over $1.5 billion GWP at YE 2010 and solid ROE‘s. Construction unit named the top rated construction insurer by National Underwriter's “Risk Manager Choice Awards" in 2009.

Chief Product (Underwriting) Officer 2002 to 2003

Led underwriting efforts partnering with market specific construction managers in Large Accounts, Middle Markets, Property / Inland Marine, Specialty Products & Wrap-up / Projects niches. Represented unit as member of ZNA enterprise UW committee. Established line of business Centers of Excellence team model adopted by rest of Zurich. Participated in development / rollout of underwriting authorities, new technical pricing rate adequacy tools, rate / product filing decisions and UW guidelines.

Executive Vice President - Marketing, Systems and Operations 1999 to 2002

Implementation of “one Zurich” organizational structure that combined all former Zurich companies into “one Zurich North American”. Relocated from Baltimore to ZNA headquarters in Schaumburg. Multiple Construction units folded into Zurich American operation. Took new role to expand HO functional area knowledge base and await another major BU assignment. Implemented new incentive compensation strategies, key agency distribution strategies, and consolidated multiple operations / processing centers into new service center model saving >$2 million in expenses annually.

President/SVP Construction SBU 1996 to 1999

Direct report to CEO of Zurich Commercial. Headed new “middle markets” construction strategic business unit (SBU). Built from $175 to peak of ~$251 million. Focused on all construction classes and account premiums of $25,000 to $5 million. Developed Inland Marine strategy to significantly expand market positions in builder risks and contractors equipment, BR product / model now the industry standard. Developed loss sensitive large accounts strategy and implemented regional UW heads to support entry into new market. Implemented strategic alliances with sister companies to cross sell specialty products needed by construction customers (bonds, umbrella, D&O, pollution).

Underwriting Vice President 1993 to 1996

Led new SBU implementation efforts. Headed up teams focused on underwriting strategy and guideline development, product and systems development for both small and middle construction markets. Led team that designed, filed and built all proprietary products, as well as eZSB system (contractor’s internet based BOP for agency input / quick quote with integrated UW rules). Platform was an industry standard when implemented.

Marketing Vice President 1992 to 1993

Selected by Zurich Senior Staff to lead development and execution of “Construction market segment” SBU strategy development and lead Zurich’s entry into this market sector. Strategy included organizational design, target class selection, UW guidelines development, product, pricing and systems development.

CNA Insurance Company Chicago, Illinois 1977 to 1992

Home Office, Field Management and Underwriting roles

Senior Manager - Professional and Commercial Lines Product Management 1986 to 1992

Led team of underwriting, actuarial, legal, marketing and product development employees in development and filings of all professional liability products. Worked closely with business heads, legal, claims, actuarial and marketing departments to implement these new offerings into marketplace. Also participated in annual Branch Office planning sessions and represented UW and actuarial "state rate adequacy and profitability" views.

Regional Underwriting Manager and Regional Property Manager 1983-1985

Regional Underwriting Manager (85) and Property/Package Manager (83/84) responsible for Midwest Region reporting to Regional Vice President. Oversaw $2.4 commercial billion book underwritten by regional branch offices. Responsibilities included overseeing all Branch UW operations working with local Branch UW Managers. Coordinated / conducted regional technical UW training efforts, annual business plan development, conducted field office technical UW reviews/audits and handled UW referral beyond field authority.

Property/Package Underwriting Management and underwriting roles 1977 to 1982

Increasing underwriting roles from trainee to Office UW Manager for Chicago branch.

Education

Western Illinois University Macomb, Illinois 1973 to 1977

Bachelor of Business Degree, Finance Major / Insurance and Risk Management specialization

Various Executive Education Programs via Zurich’s Executive Leadership Development programs

Northwestern University, Kellogg Executive Management Programs

Professional Designations achieved

Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC)

Associate in Underwriting (AIU)

Associate in Property Underwriting (AIPU)

Associate in Casualty Underwriting (AICU)

Selective CPCU and ARM courses taken

Industry Committees Served On

Insurance Services Office (ISO) Property Committee member (1985-86)

Insurance Services Office (ISO) General Liability committee representative (1986-1987)

Associated General Contractors (AGC) Insurance Industry Subcommittee member (~1993-95)

Publications and Speaking Engagements

1998 Rough Notes: July article on "Zurich Commercial Helps Agents Go After the Middle Market”

2003 article on "partnership with Confirm Net; certificates now for contractors and distributors"

2005 Innovative Captive Strategies annual conference - keynote speaker

2006 CIMA (Cayman Islands) Conference - speaker on "conversion from captive to mutual"

2006 CIMA Conference Caymans - panelist for "Meet the Markets"

2007 CICA Conference - speaker on "Group Captives"

2008 Captive Review: November article "value of captive participation in soft or hard markets"

2008 4th Qtr. Palmetto Journal - article on "choose your partners carefully"

Speaker at South Carolina “Friendly Society” meetings 2008 and 2009 on group captive products

2009 May National Underwriter - article on "Zurich enters RRG and SIR markets"

2009 Captive Strategies conference - speaker on "regulatory impacts to Group Captives"

Published in numerous other industry publications and spoken at many other key industry conferences

References available upon request

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