W. R. Berkley Announces Key Executive Appointments; Everest Group Appoints Habayeb as CFO

W.R. Berkley Corp., based in Greenwich, Connecticut, has announced the appointment of Lee Iannarone as executive vice president. He takes over from Stephen Kennedy, who has been named senior vice president and general counsel.

Iannarone joined W.R. Berkley in 2023, initially serving as senior vice president and general counsel. In his new role, he will oversee several of the company’s business operations. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Iannarone previously held the position of general counsel and chief compliance officer at a globally recognized reinsurer.

Kennedy has been with W.R. Berkley Corporation since 2020, where he served as vice president and senior counsel. His expertise encompasses insurance and reinsurance transactions, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and dispute resolution. Before joining Berkley, he was a senior equity partner at an international law firm and held the role of vice president – litigation and claims counsel at a prominent domestic reinsurance company. He also gained valuable experience as a litigation associate at another international law firm.

Everest Group Names Habayeb CFO

Everest Group Ltd., located in Hamilton, Bermuda, has appointed Elias Habayeb as executive vice president and group chief financial officer (CFO), effective May 2026.

Habayeb will succeed Mark Kociancic, who is set to retire after five years with the company, following the first-quarter reporting cycle. Kociancic will continue to support Everest as a special advisor during the transition period.

With over 30 years of experience in leading global finance organizations within the insurance and financial services sectors, Habayeb most recently served as CFO of Corebridge Financial. His previous roles include CFO positions at various divisions of American International Group (AIG), where he played a pivotal role in the IPO that established Corebridge Financial as an independent entity. Earlier in his career, he was CFO of International Lease Finance Corporation, an AIG subsidiary, and a partner in Deloitte & Touche’s Capital Markets Group.

W.R. Berkley Corp., based in Greenwich, Connecticut, has announced the appointment of Lee Iannarone as executive vice president. He takes over from Stephen Kennedy, who has been named senior vice president and general counsel.

Iannarone joined W.R. Berkley in 2023, initially serving as senior vice president and general counsel. In his new role, he will oversee several of the company’s business operations. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Iannarone previously held the position of general counsel and chief compliance officer at a globally recognized reinsurer.

Kennedy has been with W.R. Berkley Corporation since 2020, where he served as vice president and senior counsel. His expertise encompasses insurance and reinsurance transactions, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and dispute resolution. Before joining Berkley, he was a senior equity partner at an international law firm and held the role of vice president – litigation and claims counsel at a prominent domestic reinsurance company. He also gained valuable experience as a litigation associate at another international law firm.

Everest Group Names Habayeb CFO

Everest Group Ltd., located in Hamilton, Bermuda, has appointed Elias Habayeb as executive vice president and group chief financial officer (CFO), effective May 2026.

Habayeb will succeed Mark Kociancic, who is set to retire after five years with the company, following the first-quarter reporting cycle. Kociancic will continue to support Everest as a special advisor during the transition period.

With over 30 years of experience in leading global finance organizations within the insurance and financial services sectors, Habayeb most recently served as CFO of Corebridge Financial. His previous roles include CFO positions at various divisions of American International Group (AIG), where he played a pivotal role in the IPO that established Corebridge Financial as an independent entity. Earlier in his career, he was CFO of International Lease Finance Corporation, an AIG subsidiary, and a partner in Deloitte & Touche’s Capital Markets Group.