Kettle, a wildfire-focused insurtech and managing general agent (MGA), has named Jeff Chen as its chief risk officer to lead risk management and actuarial.
Chen brings expertise in insurance, reinsurance, and risk analytics. He previously served as lead corporate actuary at Root, an insurtech company. Before that, he worked as a supervising actuary for personal lines at AIG.
Jeff has over 15 years of experience in the insurance industry, specializing in actuarial and risk management. Prior to joining Kettle, Jeff was the Senior Director at Root Insurance, where he led the Corporate Actuarial function and advanced the development of reserving, reinsurance, financial forecast and risk management strategies. Jeff previously held actuarial roles at AIG across various lines of business in pricing and underwriting functions.
Kettle, an AI-enabled re/insurer for commercial property owners in areas affected by catastrophic climate events, continues to expand its team and enhance its technology to meet growing demand for wildfire insurance solutions. The MGA integrates AI models with actuarial analysis to improve underwriting accuracy and risk assessment.
Isaac Espinoza, Chief Executive Officer, Kettle, commented on the appointment, “Jeff is a proven leader in actuarial science and risk management, with deep expertise in leveraging data to drive smarter decisions. His insights will be invaluable as we scale our operations and refine our approach to insuring wildfire-prone areas.”
Sarah Kennedy, Kettle’s vice president of insurance, recently noted that parametric wildfire coverage can help policyholders reduce deductibles or cover wildfire-related risks when traditional carriers exclude them. However, regulatory complexities in California add challenges to excluding wildfire risks from standard policies.
Lauren Kolodny, Partner at Acrew Capital and lead investor in Kettle’s Series A round, added, “Kettle is setting a new standard for how technology can mitigate catastrophic risks.”
Jeff’s actuarial expertise and track record at both startups and established insurers make him an exceptional fit for the company’s next phase of growth.
The company provides insurance and reinsurance products to commercial property owners in regions prone to catastrophic climate events, including wildfires.
Jeff Chen stated, “Wildfire insurance is one of the most pressing challenges facing the insurance industry today, and Kettle’s use of artificial intelligence to address these challenges is reshaping an industry where traditional approaches simply aren’t enough. I am thrilled to join this innovative team and leverage my experience to enhance Kettle’s risk management and underwriting strategies.”