Orchid Underwriters Insurance Agency, LLC (Vero Beach, Fla.), a specialty underwriter of property insurance focusing on coastal properties, has named Chuck Fillizola CIO. In the newly created position, Fillizola will be responsible for setting and implementing IT strategy, budget management, program management, staff management, vendor selection and management, and IT delivery to support Orchid’s growth strategy. Fillizola will be a member of the company’s executive management committee along with chairman Ken LeStrange, CEO Michael Ray and president Brad Emmons.
Chuck Fillizola, CIO, Orchid Underwriters.
“This new role of chief information officer will become increasingly important as we prepare to expand the company’s product lines and geographic reach, both organically and through acquisitions,” comments Ray. “Chuck’s expertise in vendor selection/management, IT delivery, strategy, operations and technology will prove invaluable as we hone Orchid’s strategic direction.”
Orchid was formed in 1998 with a focus on providing specialty insurance products for homeowners and other difficult-to-insure properties throughout the United States and the Caribbean. The company provides customers with a “one-stop-shop” for homeowners and condominium property insurance, including umbrella policies, wind and wind only, general and excess flood, earthquake, builder’s risk and others. In Oct. 2014, Gryphon Investors (San Francisco) made a majority investment in Orchid.
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Fillizola, whose insurance career spans more than 20 years, most recently served as CIO at Sompo Japan Nipponkoa America Insurance, which writes close to $400 million in gross written premiums in the United States. Before his tenure at Sompo, Fillizola was VP and chief strategy officer for the Property & Casualty Insurance Division of CSC. Prior to his position at CSC, he spent nearly 10 years at various divisions of Fairfax Financial Holdings, Ltd., most recently as President of MFX Holdings. His previous experience in IT includes roles as a division director at American Reinsurance and IBJ Schroeder Bank. Fillizola holds a bachelor of science in computer science from Marist College.