This growth underscores the need for the visionary leadership exemplified by this year’s awardees, who bring deep expertise in digital transformation, strategic growth, and risk management. By helping organizations develop innovative products, embrace new business models, and navigate evolving workforce dynamics, these leaders are shaping the future of the insurance industry and ensuring long-term success for their clients.

Among this year’s awardees, Ronald Engel, Partner at Arthur D. Little, stands out for his deep expertise in converging insurance-related projects with other industries to create innovative solutions that drive value across sectors. Chris Raimondo, Partner at EY, is recognized for his leadership in transforming core business operations for major insurance carriers through technology. Wendy Shapps, Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting, is noted for her deep expertise in forensic accounting and fraud investigations, playing a crucial role in resolving complex disputes within the insurance industry.

This year’s awardees were selected through a methodical nomination process and careful consideration of each candidate’s career track record and industry contributions. Please join us in celebrating The Top 25 Insurance Consultants and Leaders of 2024.

1. Alissa Ristic
Firm: KPMG
Title: Managing Director

Alissa Ristic is a Managing Director in KPMG’s Customer and Operations practice with almost 20 years of consulting and insurance industry experience across the value chain, including claims, underwriting, insurance product, and broking. She also has an extensive background serving in senior leadership roles within insurtechs. 

Ristic has worked in both the US and UK insurance markets driving digital transformation, enhancing carrier speed to market across multichannel distribution models, and customer and operational excellence. She currently leads KPMG’s Digital Insurance practice, where her focus is providing insurance clients with more personalized, convenient, and cost-effective services by using digital technologies to make improvements to process, products, and services.

Ristic holds a master’s degree in risk management and insurance, is a Chartered Insurance Broker, and an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute. She was recognized as a Top 25 Insurance Consultant and Leader in 2023 by The Consulting Report as well as a Top 50 Women Leader of Boston by Women We Admire. She also takes part in the KPMG Executive Leadership Institute for Women and provides mentorship to female talent developing their careers.

2. Chris Raimondo
Firm: EY
Title: Partner

Chris Raimondo is a Partner in the Ernst and Young LLP Insurance sector and currently serves as the Americas Insurance Consulting Leader. In his role, he leads the overall portfolio of solutions and capabilities EY provides to its insurance clients, consisting of business, technology, risk and actuarial, and people consulting. He has more than 20 years of global experience in the insurance industry, with a focus on transforming core business operations through the implementation of technology. 

Chris has a strong track record of building high-performing, diverse teams and delivering complex transformation programs at major domestic and international property, casualty, life, and annuity insurance carriers. Prior to his current role, Chris led technology consulting for the EY Insurance sector. 

Chris was also a founding member of the EY Guidewire Alliance practice and served in leadership roles in the EY finance and property and casualty businesses in the insurance sector. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and entrepreneurship from the Miami University of Ohio and a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul University.

3. Ram Menon
Firm: KPMG
Title: Partner

Ram Menon is a Partner at KPMG LLP, the US member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited. Menon serves as a global advisor to C-level executives and senior management teams in the global insurance industry, providing M&A, strategy, corporate development, and divestiture related advisory services from strategy through to execution for global insurance industry clients. 

With over 30 years of global experience at KPMG’s financial services industry practices in leading financial centers worldwide, including New York, London, Singapore, and Dubai, Menon serves as the Head of KPMG’s Global Insurance Mergers, Acquisitions, and Divestitures practice, where he built a global franchise, leading cross-functional teams of industry professionals across North America, Europe and Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. 

Menon is focused on KPMG’s priority clients in the global insurance sector, aiming to drive sustainable profitable growth as part of KPMG's global growth strategy. His responsibilities span across KPMG’s cross-functional advisory, tax, and audit businesses, with a focus on expanding KPMG’s industry-wide network of relationships and enhancing overall client experience and brand awareness. 

Menon serves on the Business Advisory Board for St. John’s University Board of Overseers at the Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Management, Insurance, and Actuarial Science. He is also a frequent speaker at KPMG-sponsored industry events and conferences, focusing on insurance M&A, strategy, cross-border investments, and global and regional economic trends. Menon is a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Global Management Accountant and holds a bachelor of commerce in finance and accounting from the University of Bombay.

4. Christian Kinder
Firm: Bain and Company
Title: Partner

Christian Kinder leads Bain and Company’s insurance practice group across the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. With over 25 years of experience in management consulting, he advises clients on various aspects of their business, focusing on strategies at both the group and business unit level. His consulting expertise includes digitalization and artificial intelligence, customer and distribution strategies, and growth initiatives. 

Kinder also guides clients through organizational development, claims management, and performance improvement projects. Kinder has been with Bain since 1999 and holds a degree in business mathematics and a doctorate in finance and baking from the University of Augsburg.

5. Cindy De Armond
Firm: Accenture
Title: Managing Director

Cindy De Armond is the Managing Director of Accenture, a leading global professional services firm that helps the world’s leading businesses, governments, and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth, and enhance citizen services. With a presence in more than 120 countries, the firm focuses on innovation and talent to deliver value across various sectors.

6. John Szymczyk
Firm: Deloitte
Title: Managing Director

John Szymczyk is a Managing Director in Deloitte’s Audit practice, with over 17 years of experience primarily serving insurance and reinsurance clients. His clients have included public and private entities within the property and casualty, life and health, and captive and reinsurance industries. He has extensive experience in US GAAP, IFRS, SEC, and US statutory accounting and regulations, and has served some of the firm’s largest global insurance and reinsurance clients.

7. Fritz Nauck
Firm: McKinsey & Company
Title: Senior Partner

Fritz Nauck is a Senior Partner at McKinsey and Company, based in Charlotte, North Carolina. McKinsey and Company is a global management consulting firm that advises leading businesses, governments, and institutions across the private, public and social sectors.

8. Robert Glasser
Firm: Berkeley Research Group
Title: Managing Director

Robert Glasser is a Managing Director in BRG Consulting’s Business Insurance Claims practice and is based in New York and Denver. He is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified in Financial Forensics, a Certified Insolvency and Reorganization Accountant, and a Chartered Global Management Accountant. With over 40 years of diverse experience, he has specialized in economic management, insurance claims, accounting, and forensic fraud investigation experience at public and private companies.

Mr. Glasser helps insured businesses prepare and substantiate business interruption and property damage claims resulting from physical damage due to hurricanes and other perils. His experience spans a range of industries, including hospitality, real estate, manufacturing, retail, and service organizations. He has led several product recall claims involving domestic and international operations and leads domestic and international forensic fraud investigations involving alleged acts of employee dishonesty, embezzlement, and corruption involving the preparation of claims with insurance coverage. 

Previously, Mr. Glasser was a Managing Director at FTI Consulting in the Business Insurance Claims practice, helping clients with insurance claims, litigation support, and various loss quantification matters. He was also previously East Coast Regional Director of Aon Risk Solutions’ Property Claims Preparation, Advocacy, and Valuation Group, where he led the firm’s US East Coast Insurance Claims practice. Prior to Aon, Mr. Glasser was a Partner in Dempsey Partners’ New York office, where he led the firm’s US East Coast Property and Business Interruption Claims practice. 

Prior to Dempsey Partners, Mr. Glasser was with BDO Consulting, where he led the firm’s Insurance Claim Services practice and performed numerous forensic fraud investigations. He also served as the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of an international telecommunications firm, as well as Chief Financial Officer of a product manufacturer and distribution company. He holds an MBA in finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Connecticut. 

9. Chris Morbelli
Firm: EY
Title: Principal

Chris Morbelli is a Principal in the Insurance Consulting practice at Ernst and Young LLP, where he leads EY’s Americas Life and Group Transformation solution. He advises clients on business growth strategies, operating model design, customer experience design, and platform implementations. His clients include many of the leading life, annuity, and group benefits carriers.

In this role, Chris has guided his clients through successful end-to-end digital transformations in the life, annuities, and employee benefits sectors, focusing on new business, administration, and claims. These programs have resulted in a differentiated customer experience and business growth, while also driving sustainable operational expense reductions.

Prior to joining EY, Chris spent 20 years in the insurance industry, most recently serving as the Vice President of Strategy and Operations Transformation for a leading global life insurance company. Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from SUNY Binghamton and an MBA in finance from Rutgers University.

10. Martin Spit
Firm: EY-Parthenon
Title: Principal

Martin Spit is a Principal at EY-Parthenon, a global firm that leverages data and technology to support clients in over 150 countries. As the Americas Insurance Sector Leader for EY’s Strategy and Transactions practice, Spit advises clients on all issues relating to organic growth strategy and inorganic acquisitions and divestitures. He also has deep experience in organizational structuring and operational integration and separation. 

Previously, Spit was a Managing Director at Accenture and before that a Principal at The Boston Consulting Group. Earlier in his career he worked with Ernst and Young Consulting as a Manager. Spit holds an MBA from INSEAD and a master’s degree in computer science from Twente University in the Netherlands.

11. Mathew Tierney
Firm: Grant Thornton
Title: Global Insurance Practice Leader

Mathew Tierney is the Global Insurance Practice leader for Grant Thornton. Tierney maintains offices in both New York City and Philadelphia and also serves on Grant Thornton’s Partnership Board as well as on the Global Business Consulting Leadership team for Grant Thornton International Ltd. Tierney oversees the firm’s go-to-market strategy for the insurance industry, which includes creating industry-centric solutions, establishing service delivery teams, and ensuring quality execution for the firm’s global accounts. 

Previously, Tierney was a Senior Manager at Smart Business Advisory and Consulting. Earlier in his career he worked with Sungard Data Systems as a Staff Tax Accountant. Tierney holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Widener University and completed Harvard Business School’s Executive Leadership Program.

12. Kannan Amaresh
Firm: Infosys
Title: Senior Vice President and Global Head, Insurance

Kannan Amaresh is the Senior Vice President and Global Head of Insurance at Infosys, a global digital services and consulting firm that helps clients in more than 50 countries navigate digital transformation. Amaresh has over 25 years of professional experience across the US, Canada, UK, Europe, and India. He is a key member of the Senior Executive Leadership and Management Council at Infosys.

13. Sivakumar Deivacikamani
Firm: Cognizant
Title: Vice President

Sivakumar Deivacikamani (Siva) is a Delivery, Technology, and Innovation Head of Insurance at Cognizant. With over 24 years of experience in the insurance industry, Siva has supported more than 100 insurance clients in addressing significant business and technology challenges, including risk and regulatory compliance, product and portfolio rationalization, underwriting and claims modernization, and agent and customer experience programs.

Siva began his career at TCS, where he specialized in systems, business operations, infrastructure, and outsourcing R&D services globally. He has held various roles in sales, delivery, and solutions, and has worked closely with the Silicon Valley startup ecosystem. Siva holds a degree in electronics and instrumentation engineering from Annamalai University and has completed programs at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

14. Sarat Varanasi
Firm: Cognizant
Title: Insurance Americas Business Unit Leader

Sarat Varanasi is the Insurance Americas Business Unit Leader at Cognizant. Varanasi is a results-driven and visionary senior executive leader with over 25 years of progressive experience in the financial services industry. Adept at driving strategic business growth, executing digital transformation, and delivering exceptional results, he has a proven track record of building high-performance teams, turning around struggling units, and adapting to dynamic business environments. 

Before joining Cognizant, Varanasi was a Chief Solutions Delivery Officer at Drivestream and before that a Program Manager at Oracle. Earlier in his career he worked with Sathguru Management Consultants as a Senior Consultant. Varanasi graduated from Osmania University with an undergraduate degree in accounting and finance.

15. Matt Edwards
Firm: Slalom
Title: Senior Director

Matt Edwards is a Senior Director at Slalom, a global business and technology consulting company. In his role, he has been instrumental in establishing and growing Slalom's Global Insurance Industry practice, which focuses on guiding clients through strategic transformation and modernization, including designing modern insurance products, defining the business value of AI in underwriting and claims, creating integrated technology ecosystems, and transforming data infrastructure to provide greater insights to make business decisions.

In addition to helping Slalom's global insurance clients transform, Matt has been involved in crafting a number of thought articles on insurance topics, which include hurdles facing the reinsurance industry, cloud migration, predictive modeling in specialty insurance, and digital transformation. He has also participated in panel discussions on emerging topics impacting the industry. Matt also works closely with Slalom's large partner network to co-develop industry-focused solutions that leverage partner platforms, accelerating value creation for Slalom's clients.

Prior to Slalom, Matt spent more than a decade with Safeco and Liberty Mutual in a number of different roles within claims, service, FP&A, P&C operations, and finance and product management. He holds an undergraduate degree in history from Indiana University Bloomington.

16. Jeannette Mitchell
Firm: PwC
Title: Partner

Jeannette Mitchell is a Partner at PwC, a network of firms operating in 151 countries with over 360,000 professionals delivering assurance, advisory, and tax services. Mitchell led PwC’s Insurance Trust Solutions practice. With over 25 years of experience, she oversees the delivery of assurance and tax services in the life, annuity, property and casualty, and health sectors.

17. Daren Rudd
Firm: CGI
Title: Vice President

Daren Rudd is Vice President in CGI’s UK Insurance business and leads the business, technology, and innovation consulting team. His team, composed of industry, product, and technology experts, advises on insurance digital business and technology strategy, insurance industry and technology insights, future operating model and architecture design, and human-centered innovation and design.

18. Nate Seacrist
Firm: RSM US
Title: Partner

Nate Seacrist is a Partner at RSM US, a provider of assurance, tax, and consulting services to the middle market. With over 17,000 professionals across the US and Canada and a global presence in 120 countries, RSM is committed to understanding and addressing the evolving needs of its clients, colleagues, and communities.

19. Michael Pisano
Firm: Protiviti
Title: Managing Director

Michael Pisano is a Managing Director in Protiviti’s National Financial Services practice and is Protiviti’s Insurance Industry Internal Audit leader. Protiviti is a global consulting firm that provides clients with consulting and managed solutions in finance, technology, operations, data, digital, legal, HR, risk, and internal audit through a network of more than 90 offices in over 25 countries.

20. James McDermott
Firm: Alvarez and Marsal
Title: Managing Director

James McDermott is a Managing Director and Leader with Alvarez and Marsal’s Insurance and Risk Advisory Services practice in New York. McDermott specializes in business turnaround, crisis management, financial restructuring, and capital markets transactions. He is recognized for providing strategic, financial, operational and risk management advice throughout the insurance sector.

21. Wendy Shapss
Firm: FTI Consulting
Title: Senior Managing Director

Wendy Shapss is a Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting and is based in New York. FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm that helps organizations manage change, mitigate risk, and resolve disputes across financial, legal, operational, political and regulatory, and reputational and transactional areas. With over 8,000 employees across 33 countries and territories, FTI Consulting professionals assist clients in navigating complex business challenges.

22. Heather Gagnon
Firm: Crowe
Title: Managing Director

Heather Gagnon is a Managing Director in the consulting group at Crowe, a public accounting, consulting, and technology firm that provides audit services to public and private entities. Gagnon specializes in insurance consulting services and internal process, risk, and control assessments.

23. Gaurav Garg
Firm: Oliver Wyman
Title: Partner

Gaurav Garg is a Partner and Global Head of P&C Insurance at Oliver Wyman, a business of Marsh McLennan. Oliver Wyman is a management consulting firm that combines industry knowledge with specialized expertise to help clients optimize their business, improve operations, and accelerate performance. Garg brings extensive global industry experience to his role, advising large multinational corporations as well as emerging insurtechs to provide strategic guidance at various phases of growth and development.

24. Will Davies
Firm: PA Consulting
Title: Partner

Will Davies is a Partner at PA Consulting, a professional services firm that works with public, private, and third-sector organizations. With over 20 years of experience across the finance services and insurance industries, Davies helps clients address significant challenges, including enhancing customer experience, driving digital, data, and cloud transformation, cost reduction, and delivering new risk and regulatory compliance and change programs.

25. Ronald Engel
Firm: Arthur D. Little
Title: Partner

Ronald Engel is a Partner and a member of Arthur D. Little’s global Financial Services practice. Based in Munich, he works closely with teams on insurance-related projects, often in convergence with other practices, helping to create new value at the interface of industries. Arthur D. Little is a management consultancy that links strategy, innovation, and technology to drive success for its clients.

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