May 9, 2024 (WASHINGTON, DC) –The Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA), a nonprofit, nonpartisan trade association representing all segments of the surety and fidelity industry, held its annual meeting this past week with more than 185 members and guests attending. Robert Murray, SFAA Chair, Executive Committee Member, Head of Surety, Zurich North America, and Ryan Work, SFAA president and CEO, presided over the event, providing updates on SFAA’s accomplishments and ongoing initiatives.

SFAA members were on hand to celebrate outgoing SFAA Chair Robert Murray after his two-year term, in addition to congratulating him on his upcoming retirement. Murray will be succeeded as chair by Michael Keimig, president and CEO of Markel Surety Corporation. Keimig has been an active participant in the SFAA for over a decade, most recently as a Board and Executive Committee member.

Videos celebrating SFAA’s accomplishments throughout 2023 and honoring the 2023 Surety Industry Awards winners were also shared.

The SFAA Membership elected the following Board of Directors and Executive Committee in a unanimous vote.

Officers and Executive Committee Members        

• Michael Keimig, President & CEO, Markel Surety Corporation
• Stephen Ruschak, Executive Vice President Surety, Arch Insurance Group
• John F. Welch, President & CEO, CNA Surety Group
• Rick Ciullo, Chief Operating Officer, The Hartford Insurance Group
• Timothy Mikolajewski, President, Global Surety, Liberty Mutual Group
• Antonio C. Albanese, Head of Surety, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
• Bryce Grissom, Senior Vice President, Travelers

Other Elected Board Members    

• Ken Bearley, President, Bond Division, Great American Insurance Companies
• John Guglielmo, Head of Surety, North America at Intact Insurance Specialty Solutions
• Stephen M. Haney, Division President, North America Surety & CUO, Global Surety, Chubb Surety
• James Kawiecki, President of Surety, Hanover Insurance Group
• Matt Lubin, President, Surety Division Crum & Forster
• Robert Murray, Head of Surety, Zurich North America
• Alan Pavlic, President/COO, Old Republic Surety Group
• Sharon Sims, Senior Vice President, Sompo International
• Gary Stumper, National Surety Leader, Westfield Group
• Larry Taylor, President, Merchants Bonding Company Group
• Mike Zurcher, Executive Vice President, IAT Insurance Group

SFAA Contact: Peter Roth, Vice President – Strategic Communications, Marketing & Research
Phone: (703) 401-0676 E-mail: proth@surety.org

###

The Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan trade association representing all surety and fidelity industry segments. We promote the value of surety and fidelity bonding and its vital protections through advocacy, outreach, promotion, and education. The more than 425 member companies write 98 percent of surety and fidelity bonds in the U.S. SFAA is licensed as a rating or advisory organization in all states, and state insurance departments have designated it as a statistical agent for the reporting of fidelity and surety experience. www.surety.org