Antonello: New Gig 'Just Too Hard to Resist'

Reno, NV (WorkersCompenstion.com) – NCCI’s former chief actuary is looking forward to getting involved in projects beyond the traditional areas of pricing and reserving. That was one of the factors that attracted Kathy Antonello to ENMPLOYERS Holdings, Inc.

Recently named the company’s EVP and Chief Actuary, Antonello and EMPLOYERS’ President and CEO Douglas D. Dirks discussed the role Antonello will play in the company’s future.

WorkersCompensation.com: What will you be doing specifically for Employers?

Antonello: In my new role as EVP and Chief Actuary I will be overseeing the actuarial functions of EMPLOYERS and providing support to the numerous state-of-the-art initiatives currently underway.

WorkersCompensation.com: What is the vision for the company going forward? 

Dirks: As a monoline workers compensation writer, EMPLOYERS is uniquely focused on small businesses in low to medium hazard industries. EMPLOYERS is aggressively developing and deploying a leading edge data, analytical and technology platform that drives exceptional ease of doing business and superior financial results. As a part of these strategies, EMPLOYERS launched an Austin, Texas-based direct-to-customer insurer, Cerity, in January of 2019 and recently deployed new technology that, among many innovations, enables EMPLOYERS’ agents to obtain bindable quotes in approximately 2 minutes.

WorkersCompensation.com: What do you hope to achieve?

Antonello: As Doug mentioned, in 2019 EMPLOYERS is focusing on new technological and intellectual capabilities that will support future growth initiatives, provide greater pricing precision, flexibility and operational efficiencies, and promote long-term value creation. I’m excited for the opportunity to work for such a dynamic company and be a part of the team that will bring these objectives to life.

WorkersCompensation.com: How is this, or is it very different from what you've done before?

Antonello: I’ve worked at several insurance companies, a consulting firm and a bureau during my career. While I’ll be very busy working with the traditional actuarial areas of pricing and reserving, I’ll also get the opportunity to get involved in other non-traditional projects and look forward to working for a publicly traded company again.

WorkersCompensation.com: What attracted you to Employers?

Antonello: With a singular focus on workers compensation, EMPLOYERS felt like a perfect fit for me given my more than 20 years of experience in this unique and complex line of business. Doug has assembled a strong leadership team and the board is very supportive of the mission and vision. The alignment among the executives was evident and the excitement surrounding the implementation of the mission and vision was contagious. The size, culture and flexibility of EMPLOYERS were also attractive. With its highly collaborative environment, I will have the opportunity to get involved in many aspects of the business.

WorkersCompenstion.com: What does EMPLOYERS hope for the company by bringing Kathy on board?

Dirks: Successful insurers are now required not only to have innovative data and technology capabilities, but more importantly the ability to rapidly derive from that data competitive insights and advantages. Kathy brings to EMPLOYERS a unique set of talents and experiences that will support the development and execution of leading edge data-based strategies for EMPLOYERS.

WorkersCompensation.com: Why the decision to leave NCCI?

Antonello: The Actuarial and Economic Services division of NCCI has some of the most brilliant and talented actuaries in the industry, and the decision to try something new was difficult. While I will miss NCCI, EMPLOYERS presented an opportunity for a new challenge that was just too hard to resist.

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