SVP Strategy & Innovation

The Senior Vice President, Strategy & Innovation leads the Global Insurance Innovation Group and serves as an enterprise leader responsible for shaping HSB’s long‑term strategic direction and driving sustainable growth through customer‑led innovation. Reporting directly to the CEO and partnering closely with the Executive Leadership Team, this role translates market insight, customer needs, and emerging trends into actionable enterprise strategies, differentiated insurance products and services, and improved customer experiences.

This position ensures strategic decision‑making is anchored in external insight and enterprise priorities, and that innovation efforts are disciplined, scalable, and aligned with HSB’s financial, brand, and risk objectives.

The SVP leads a diverse, high‑performing team of strategist, innovation professionals, product leaders, researchers, and customer‑experience specialists, fostering a culture of collaboration, experimentation, and evidence‑based decision making across the company.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Minimum 15 years of experience in the insurance industry, with a focus on strategy development, innovation, product development, underwritng and leadership.
• Proven track record of success in leading high-performing teams with a diverse skill set, driving business growth, and building strong relationships with stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of insurance business models, underwriting economics, distribution, and customer experience.
• Demonstrated ability to translate insight into action and influence across a complex, matrixed organization.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as Business Administration, Finance, Insurance, or a related field.
• Advanced degree, such as a Master's in Business Administration (MBA), Master's in Finance, or a related field, is highly desirable.
• Professional certifications, such as Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) or Associate in Insurance Services (AIS), are also advantageous.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Strong strategic‑thinking capability and ability to operate at an enterprise level.
• Expertise in product and service innovation, commercialization, and disciplined innovation practices
• Strong knowledge of insurance products, markets, regulatory environments, and customer needs.
• Experience building and scaling customer insight, VoC, or other innovation capabilities (such as digital or Saas services.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate and develop high-performing teams.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to engage credibly at Board and Executive levels.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex business environments and make customer-centric and insight-driven decisions.
• Ability to lead and manage high-performing teams with a diverse set of skills, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and ensure compliance with industry standards and organizational policies.
• Ability to analyze complex data sets and provide actionable insights to inform business decisions.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, prioritizing multiple tasks and deadlines while maintaining attention to detail and quality.

At The Hartford Steam Boiler, a subsidiary of Munich Re, we see Diversity and Inclusion as a solution to the challenges and opportunities all around us. Our goal is to foster an inclusive culture and build a workforce that reflects the customers we serve and the communities in which we live and work. We strive to provide a workplace where all of our colleagues feel respected, valued and empowered to achieve their very best every day. We recruit and develop talent with a focus on providing our customers the most innovative products and services.   

We are an equal opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

We are an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.  The work environment characteristics, and any physical and mental requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee.  Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.