Business Development and Client Engagement

Jon Monks was appointed EVP, Head of Distribution, Business Development, and Client Engagement for Sompo North America.

He joined Sompo in 2018 to build the Business Development platform for Sompo’s U.S. platform.

Mr Monks has 25 years of experience in the industry, the last 14 of which has been focused on Business Development and Client Engagement for Sompo International and another global carrier.

He holds a B.A. from Boston College and an M.B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.

Ron Willett was appointed EVP, Field Management, North America Insurance at Sompo in December 2022. In this role, he leads field management activities across North America, supporting the organization’s distribution strategy and strengthening broker engagement.   

Mr. Willett brings more than 30 years of insurance industry experience spanning property and casualty as well as accident and health insurance. Prior to joining Sompo, he held several senior leadership roles at AIG, including North America Retail Distribution Leader, Zone President for the Northeast, and Managing Director of the Boston Office. His career includes extensive experience in underwriting, regional leadership, and large account management across the United States. 

Mr. Willett holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Middlebury College. 

Guy Debbaudt is SVP and Regional Executive at Sompo. Based in our Miami office he is responsible for leading regional strategies across multiple product lines and supporting underwriting activities for the state of Florida.

With more than 30 years’ of industry experience, he has held senior leadership roles across the United States and Latin America, including positions in Florida, Georgia, New York, Argentina, Chile and Brazil. His background spans Property and Casualty Insurance, Marine, Commercial Insurance and Financial Lines, with extensive expertise in managing underwriting teams and driving portfolio performance.

Guy graduated from the University of São Paulo, USP with a postgraduate degree from Fundação Getulio Vargas.

Angela Frederiksen was appointed SVP, Regional Executive at Sompo in March 2024.

She is responsible for leading regional underwriting and business development activity across key markets. Prior to this, Ms. Frederiksen served as Regional Underwriting Executive and Business Development at Sompo, where she managed portfolio growth and broker engagement. She previously held several senior roles at Chubb Group of Insurance Companies during a tenure that spanned more than twenty years.

With more than 25 years of industry experience, Ms. Frederiksen has extensive expertise in property and casualty insurance, professional liability, and D&O, with a leadership career rooted in the Texas market. She holds a Master of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Dallas and a bachelor’s degree in business with a focus on Finance and Insurance from the University of North Texas.

Michael Lee is SVP and the Denver Office Regional Executive at Sompo, where he is responsible for leading retail business development strategy and broker engagement across the Mountain States.

Mr. Lee previously served at Sompo as AVP and VP, Retail Business Development, with accountability for opening and establishing the Sompo Denver office, expanding distribution partnerships, and supporting regional growth initiatives in the Mountain States.   

With more than 20 years of insurance and financial services experience, Mr. Lee has held senior business development, underwriting and client-facing roles across national and regional organizations. His background includes leadership positions focused on commercial lines, technology and cyber risk, and multi-state territory management, primarily across the western US.   

Mr. Lee holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance from The University of Texas at San Antonio. 

Kent Ochs was appointed SVP, Business Development, Central Zone at Sompo in July 2022. In this role, he oversees regional growth initiatives and supports broker and client relationships across the Central United States. Mr. Ochs previously served as VP, Business Development, Central US at Sompo, where he focused on distribution strategy and market development.

With more than 25 years of industry experience, he has held senior leadership positions in underwriting, regional management, and business development. Mr. Ochs has worked across major US markets, including Chicago, St Louis, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Detroit, and Cleveland. His background includes oversight of P&L, strategic planning and cross‑functional team leadership.

Mr. Ochs has a Master of Business Administration in Marketing from DePaul University and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Iowa as well as earning his CPCU and ARM.

Greg Penko was appointed SVP, Retail Business Development Northeast Zone at Sompo in July 2022, where he is responsible for leading regional retail business development activities across the Northeast. 

Prior to this, Mr. Penko served as VP, Business Development at Sompo from June 2021 to October 2022, supporting growth initiatives and broker engagement across multiple markets. Mr. Penko has built his career in commercial insurance and business development, holding senior leadership and client-facing roles with organizations including AIG, Marsh, Travelers, and The Graham Company. His experience spans regional management, distribution strategy, and property and casualty insurance, primarily across the northeastern United States, including New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.  

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Penn State University. 

Will Rodriguez serves as SVP, Business Development, Southeast Zone, and Regional Executive at Sompo. Mr Rodriguez leads growth initiatives across the region and works closely with distribution partners and underwriting leaders to strengthen relationships and support enterprise priorities.

Mr Rodriguez previously held several leadership roles at Sompo, including SVP, Global Financial Institutions and Professional Services Vertical Leader, VP, Business Development, and AVP, Business Development.

With more than 20 years of industry experience, he has worked across brokerage, underwriting, and business development in major markets including New York, London, and Charlotte. His background includes senior positions at Liberty Mutual, Zurich, Chubb, Willis Towers Watson and Aon.

Mr Rodriguez completed executive education at Wharton Executive Education.

Ben Vaky was appointed Regional Executive at Sompo in March 2024. He also serves as SVP, Western Zone Market Leader, a position he has held since July 2022. Prior to this, Mr. Vaky was VP, Business Development at Sompo from 2018 to 2022.

Mr. Vaky has more than 20 years of industry experience, including senior roles in business development, underwriting, and sales. He has worked across major US markets including San Francisco and Chicago. His background includes leadership positions at Markel Specialty, AIG and Denali Capital, where he managed underwriting portfolios, broker relationships, and regional growth strategies.

Mr. Vaky holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Miami University.

Laura Boukas was appointed SVP, Client Engagement at Sompo in June 2025. In this role, she oversees key client relationships and supports large, complex commercial insurance programs across a diverse portfolio.  

Ms Boukas joined Sompo in 2016 as Vice President, Casualty Team Leader, later advancing to Senior Vice President, Casualty Team Leader in March 2020. From April 2022 to June 2025, she served as Senior Vice President, Large Accounts Primary Casualty Leader, concentrating on Real Estate and Hospitality.  

With more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, Ms Boukas has deep expertise in casualty and commercial lines. Her background spans operations, underwriting, and leadership roles dedicated to managing and growing large account casualty portfolios.  

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies from the University at Albany. 

Rose M.J. Charles, Esquire was appointed SVP, Client Engagement Executive, Sompo North America in January 2023. In this role, she is responsible for strengthening client relationships and aligning claims and risk solutions with client needs to support effective outcomes across the portfolio.

Ms Charles previously held the role of SVP, Head of Sompo GRS Casualty, Auto, and Environmental Claims in January 2020, where she led casualty, auto, and environmental claims within Sompo’s Global Risk Solutions business. She joined Sompo in April 2013 as VP, Primary and Excess Claims Counsel and was appointed VP, GRS Casualty Claims Leader and Claims Counsel in January 2016.

With more than 25 years of experience, Ms. Charles has extensive expertise in litigation management, property and casualty insurance, and liability claims. She began her career in private practice at Wilson Elser, where she became a partner handling complex commercial and general liability matters.

Ms Charles holds a Juris Doctor from St. John’s University School of Law, a Master of Science in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Psychology from Boston University.

Steve Grabek is Client Engagement Manager at Sompo, having joined in 2022 to lead efforts to develop a new Strategic Client Engagement Practice. Prior to joining Sompo, Steve spent over 22 years with AIG in various roles of increasing responsibility including four years as its Global head of Client and Broker Engagement.

Previously, Steve was President of AIG’s North America Distribution and Field Organization and was Midwest Regional President. Steve organized and managed the AIG Global Client Council. Prior to joining AIG, Mr. Grabek was with Travelers in various roles. Steve currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement of Chicago as well as the Advisory Board for the Brantley Center of Insurance and Risk Management at Appalachian State University in North Carolina.

Mr. Grabek graduated from the University of Hartford.

Rennie Muzii was appointed EVP, Asian Risk Solutions at Sompo in January 2024. In this role, Mr. Muzii focuses on client-facing activities within the ARS customer segment, with emphasis on client retention and the development of new business through cross‑selling and account targeting.

Mr. Muzii previously served as SVP, Professional Lines at Sompo from 2013 to 2024, where he was responsible for business development and underwriting across Directors and Officers Liability, Professional Liability, Employment Practices and Cyber Insurance.

He has more than 30 years of industry experience, with earlier leadership roles at Marsh USA and AIG, working with clients across communication, media and technology sectors and overseeing complex E&O and Cyber Risk placements.

Mr. Muzii holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Pace University’s Lubin School of Business.

Raymond O’Byrne was appointed SVP, Client Engagement Executive, Sompo North America in January 2023.
In this role, Ray oversees key client relationships and supports large, complex commercial insurance programs across the portfolio. Mr. O’Byrne previously held the role of SVP, Retail Business Development from August 2018 to April 2023.

He joined Sompo in December 2008 as a founding member of the US Commercial Management Liability business unit.

With more than 30 years of insurance experience, Mr. O’Byrne has deep expertise in underwriting and broking. He provides value-added claim and risk solutions to large clients.
Prior to joining Sompo, Mr. O’Byrne held senior roles at Willis and Chubb.

Mr. O’Byrne holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Dayton.

Dan Reinert is SVP, Client Engagement, Private Equity at Sompo. In this role, he is responsible for coordinating strategy across Middle Market, Financial Lines, and Commercial P&C. He also oversees client engagement, and broader portfolio management for Private Equity as an industry class.

Dan has over 20 years of experience in retail insurance markets. Prior to Sompo, Dan led the Private Equity Vertical Nationally at Everest Insurance. He has also spent time at ACE USA, Nationwide, and Aspen focusing on Financial Lines and General Partnership Liability.

He Graduated from the Fox school of Business at Temple University with a degree in Risk Management Insurance.

Masaki Takeda was appointed EVP, Client Engagement Officer, Asian Risk Solutions (ARS) at Sompo in April 2024.

He is responsible for leading client engagement across the ARS portfolio.

Mr Takeda previously held several senior roles within Sompo. From April 2021 to March 2024, he served as General Manager in the Corporate Production Department at Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. in Tokyo, where he was responsible for major corporate clients. He earlier held the role of General Manager, Automotive Business Development.

Prior to this, Mr Takeda was VP, Strategy and Integration at Sompo in New York, as well as Managing Director at Sompo America Insurance Services LLC in Dallas.

He has held leadership roles across the United States and Japan, with experience spanning client engagement, strategy, integration and automotive-focused portfolios.