Skyward Specialty Lands Elite Talent to Build Leading Inland Marine Position

Skyward Specialty hires three experienced leaders to accelerate growth and capabilities in its Inland Marine insurance segment.

Rhea-AI Summary

Skyward Specialty (SKWD) announced three senior hires to expand its Inland Marine insurance unit. Industry veteran Jon Kattman will lead the Inland Marine team, bringing two decades of experience from roles at Sompo, Aspen, The Hanover Insurance Group, Liberty Mutual Insurance and U.S. Assure. Jared Lester joins as vice president of Inland Marine, adding 16 years of experience from The Hanover Insurance Group and Sompo. Casie Derrick joins as assistant vice president, contributing 20 years of underwriting expertise across inland marine and related property risks from Berkley Fire & Marine, The Hartford and AGCS Marine Insurance Company.

Market Context

-1.03% was the recorded 24-hour reaction to the May 12 appointment of Melissa Goto to lead E&S Broke...

Analysis

-1.03% was the recorded 24-hour reaction to the May 12 appointment of Melissa Goto to lead E&S Brokerage and Inland Marine; that directly related leadership event provides context for today’s three-hire expansion.

Key Figures

Strategic hires: 3 hires Kattman experience: 20 years Lester experience: 16 years +1 more

Strategic hires

3 hires

Inland Marine unit

Kattman experience

20 years

Industry experience

Lester experience

16 years

Insurance experience

Derrick experience

20 years

Underwriting expertise

Historical Context

1 past event · Latest: May 12

1 event

1. May 12

   Inland Marine leadership

   24h Move

   -1.0%

   Melissa Goto appointed to lead E&S Brokerage and Inland Marine businesses

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

inland marine, p&c, non-admitted, admitted, +1 more

5 terms

inland marine technical

"strengthening teamHOUSTON, Sept. 08, 2026 -- Skyward Specialty"

Inland marine is a type of insurance that protects movable property and goods while they are being transported or temporarily stored on land, as well as specialized equipment and installations that travel or are used at different sites. Think of it as a safety net for items that don’t stay put—like contractors’ tools, construction gear, fine art in transit, or commercial shipments—which matters to investors because claims or gaps in this coverage can affect a company’s replacement costs, operations, liability exposure and ultimately profitability and risk profile.

p&c technical

"a leader in the specialty property and casualty (P&C) market"

P&C stands for property and casualty insurance, the sector that protects physical assets (homes, cars, buildings) and pays for legal or repair costs when people or property are harmed. Investors watch P&C businesses because they generate steady premium income but face sudden, often large claims after accidents or disasters, so profitability can swing sharply—think of premiums as a safety net that can stretch or tear under big losses.

non-admitted regulatory

"products and solutions on a non-admitted and admitted basis"

Non-admitted describes an insurer or insurance policy that is not licensed or approved by a particular state regulator to do business there; such coverage is typically sold through surplus lines brokers instead of the standard regulated market. For investors, non-admitted status matters because it can signal different legal and financial protections—policyholders may have fewer state-backed guarantees and the insurer may face different capital, regulatory and reputational risks, similar to a vendor operating in a market without a local business license.

admitted regulatory

"products and solutions on a non-admitted and admitted basis"

Admitted means a company's securities have been accepted for listing or trading on a particular exchange or trading venue. It matters to investors because admission allows those shares to be bought and sold on that market and brings the company under the exchange's rules and disclosure requirements, similar to a store being allowed to open in a mall and agreeing to the mall's operating rules.

underwriting technical

"Derrick brings 20 years of proven underwriting expertise"

Underwriting is the process where a financial institution agrees to buy and then resell new stocks or bonds to investors. It matters because it helps companies raise money quickly and smoothly, while the bank takes on the risk of selling those securities at the agreed price. Think of it like a booker guaranteeing to sell all tickets for a concert before opening the doors.

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Jon Kattman to lead with Jared Lester and Casie Derrick significantly strengthening team

HOUSTON, Sept. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.® (Nasdaq: SKWD), a Skyward Group Company ("Skyward Specialty" or "the Company"), a leader in the specialty property and casualty (P&C) market, announced three strategic hires to its Inland Marine unit as the Company deepens its investment in this niche segment.

Skyward Specialty recruited Jon Kattman, an industry veteran of two decades, to lead the Inland Marine team. Kattman’s exceptional track record of building profitable portfolios and delivering differentiated solutions for complex risks will be essential to strengthening the Company’s position in the inland marine market. He most recently served as senior vice president, Inland Marine, at Sompo. Previously, he led Aspen’s U.S. inland marine group and property programs business and held various leadership positions at The Hanover Insurance Group, Liberty Mutual Insurance and U.S. Assure. 

Skyward Specialty also hired seasoned insurance strategist, Jared Lester, as vice president of Inland Marine. Lester brings a reputation for driving exceptional growth and building high-performing teams over his 16 years of experience from The Hanover Insurance Group and, most recently, Sompo. Additionally, the Company welcomed Casie Derrick as assistant vice president to the team. Derrick brings 20 years of proven underwriting expertise and deep industry knowledge across inland marine and related property risk from Berkley Fire & Marine, The Hartford and AGCS Marine Insurance Company. Most recently, Derrick was assistant vice president of Inland Marine at Sompo.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jon, Jared and Casie to the team. Their collective market knowledge, relationships and expertise will be instrumental as we build a highly defensible position in Inland Marine,” said Melissa Goto, president, E&S and Inland Marine. “Our continued investment in recruiting the industry’s best talent is key to how we win in the market and scale our capabilities to rule our niche.”

About Skyward Specialty
Skyward Specialty (Nasdaq: SKWD), a Skyward Group company, is a rapidly growing and innovative specialty insurance company, delivering commercial property and casualty products and solutions on a non-admitted and admitted basis. The Company operates through nine underwriting divisions – Accident & Health, Global Agriculture, Captives, Industry Solutions, Global Property, Professional Lines, Specialty Programs, Credit & Surety and Transactional E&S.

Skyward Specialty's subsidiary insurance companies consist of Great Midwest Insurance Company, Houston Specialty Insurance Company, Imperium Insurance Company, and Oklahoma Specialty Insurance Company. These insurance companies are rated A (Excellent) with a stable outlook by A.M. Best Company. For more information about Skyward Specialty, its people, and its products, please visit https://www.skywardinsurance.com.

About Skyward Group
Skyward Group is the holding company brand for its U.S. and Lloyds businesses, Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.® and Apollo, respectively, delivering a comprehensive suite of specialized insurance solutions across global specialty property and casualty markets. Focused on the specialty industry’s most niche, complex risks of today and the emerging challenges of tomorrow, Skyward Group leverages the forward-looking insight and disciplined execution of each organization to drive sustainable growth and long-term value for its shareholders, distribution partners and other stakeholders. For more information about Skyward Group, Skyward Specialty and Apollo, please visit skywardgroup.com.

Media Contact
Haley Doughty
Skyward Specialty
713-935-4944
hdoughty@skywardinsurance.com

Investor Contact
Jordan Arnold
Skyward Specialty Insurance Group
346-215-0250
kreed@skywardinsurance.com