Financial Services Leader
Resume:
THOMAS J. POPKO
Spokane, Washington 99224
********@*****.***
www.linkedin.com/in/tompopko
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Business Operations / Underwriting / Sales
Enthusiastic, results driven executive keenly focused on process execution and talent development. Strong business acumen developed through line and executive positions at multiple “Fortune 100” financial services companies. Proven ability in leading cross functional strategic projects and leading teams focused on exceeding customer expectations while delivering top line growth and bottom line profitability. Management strengths developed from leading teams in Operations, Underwriting and Sales include:
• Operational Execution
• Strategic Project Leadership
• Driving Process Improvement/Redesign
• Call Center Management
• Outsourcing optimization
• P&L optimization
• Establish and deliver Underwriting direction
• Agency Relationship Management
• Pricing Acumen
• Challenge & mentor top talent for accelerated development
• Effective Negotiations & Communications
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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, Hartford, CT 2008 – June 2011
Publicly traded (TRV) US based international Property Casualty Insurance Company; 30,000+ employees; $25 billion in revenue.
BUSINESS CENTER VICE PRESIDENT, Spokane, WA
Led Small Commercial business insurance service center for western half of the country. Coordinated all aspects of call center management, expense controls and business processing of in-force and renewal accounts. Heavily involved in strategic projects focused on cost reduction, improved efficiency and ease-of-use for our customers.
• Cut service delivery time by 1/3 by driving companywide proof of concept project utilizing vendor technology to automate paper endorsement processing.
• Increased productivity 18% through process redesign, and implementation of virtual work queues and ALR (agent level routing) across multiple locations.
• Planned and implemented Process Outsourcing resulting in savings of 37 FTEs. Partnered with home office to improve training, quality control and production both during and after outsourcing transition. Achieved steady state quality and productivity targets 1 month ahead of schedule.
• Initiated project to eliminate multiple legacy systems supporting the same product offering across several business segments. Once complete, the new platform will deliver enhanced internal efficiency and improved ease of access for external business partners.
• Sponsored development of conversion and automated renewal process for 500,000+ Small Commercial legacy policies. Change projected to generate savings of 47 full time employees.
HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, Hartford, CT 1996 – 2008
Publicly traded (HIG) Insurance and Investment Company; 30,000+ employees; $22 billion in revenue.
VICE PRESIDENT AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, San Antonio, TX (2003 -2008)
Led Business Insurance Service Center of 380 employees responsible for issuing and maintaining all business insurance products for western third of country (15 states). Included 80-person inbound call center and coordination of countrywide service through call sharing and virtual work queue management tools. Served as on-site business resiliency coordinator for the full 600 employee business center.
• Hired, mentored and promoted three external managers to mid-level manager/AVP roles.
• Partnered with Underwriting and Six Sigma project team to redesign new business process flow cutting in half the initial response time to agents.
VICE PRESIDENT AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, Reno, NV (2001 – 2003)
Directed Personal Lines Underwriting function for western 1/3 of country. Drove profit and growth of business generated through Independent Agency distribution channel. $305 million in written premium and 294,000 policies. Directly managed five internal managers and three field sales representatives.
REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, Reno, NV (2000 – 2001)
Led growing 11 state Personal Lines regional office through successive years of growth and profit. Oversaw all aspects of sales and underwriting functions, including field relationships, internal and external communications, staff development, and expense management.
• Drove 42% growth in written premium and a 94% combined ratio.
• Built leadership bench strength by developing and promoting two underwriters and two sales managers to new sales management positions.
REGION MANAGER, Reno, NV (1998 – 2000)
Directed all aspects of profit, growth and day-to-day functioning of internal operations.
• Grew three-state region with premiums of $78 million and 115,000 policies in force.
• Achieved back-to-back years of double digit growth and outstanding loss performance.
PERSONAL LINES DIRECTOR OF UNDERWRITING, Hartford, CT (1996 – 1998)
Partnered with VP of Underwriting to establish and implement countrywide underwriting direction for Personal Lines Independent Agency business segment.
• Introduced new Insurance Score tool generating rapid growth and improved profitability.
ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY, Northbrook, IL 1996 - prior
Publicly traded (ALL) Insurance and Investment company; 70,000+ employees; $31 billion in revenue.
TERRITORY AND DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT POSITIONS, WI, OH, MI, CA, IL & MO
Held positions of increasing responsibility in both the field and home office managing a variety of Personal Lines Underwriting and Sales departments across the country.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
B.A. Economics, University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO
Executive Education/Leadership Training:
Attributes of a Strategic Leader, Leading from the Middle, Leadership Challenge, Leaders Window
Six Sigma Champions Training
Property and Casualty Agents License (inactive)
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