How Will New CHRO Chris Kujawa Transform Everest's Talent?

Global insurance and reinsurance underwriter Everest has appointed Christopher Kujawa as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, effective January 20, 2026. He will be tasked with guiding people strategy in line with the company’s long-term strategic objectives to provide specialised and high-performance insurance and reinsurance. 

Christopher, who brings over 25 years of HR experience, will focus on strengthening the company’s culture and leadership strategy as Everest transitions into a new growth phase.

The company, which underwrites businesses in more than 115 countries in six continents, is currently in a strategic “growth and pivot” phase following an exit from global retail commercial insurance to focus on high-margin reinsurance and specialty lines.

Discussing the appointment Jim Williamson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Everest, says: “Chris is an exceptional addition to our senior leadership team, with a proven record of elevating leadership, talent, and organisational performance in complex organisations.”

“He brings a collaborative and inclusive leadership style and a clear ability to strengthen culture in direct support of disciplined execution, which will be instrumental as Everest enters its next chapter focused on sustained profitability and long-term value creation.”

Who is Christopher Kujawa?

Christopher is an experienced people and HR leader, having previously occupied multiple senior leadership roles at companies including Conduent, American Express and Ally Financial.

Most recently, he served as Chief Human Resources Officer of Conduent Incorporated, a global technology and services company, where he led the company’s HR function.

During his tenure, Christopher played a key role in redesigning Conduent’s HR operating model during a period of organisational change and financial restructuring that included major divestitures and substantial cost reductions. 

Prior to Conduent, he served as Global Vice President of Human Capabilities at American Express, where he supported company-wide transformation and led a ‘Need for Speed' campaign to increase organisational agility, resulting in the fastest card launch in the company’s history. 

Leading people strategy at Everest

Highlighting his new role on a Linkedin, Christopher wrote: “As I step into a new chapter, I am deeply grateful for the many colleagues, mentors and friends who have shaped my career.”

“I am looking forward to building on Everest’s incredible culture and leadership and achieving new heights.”

The appointment comes during a period of restructuring focused on high-speed global growth and sustained profitability.

Everest is seeking to increase its revenue to US$16.8bn and earnings to US$3.6bn by 2028 through a concentration on profitable insurance lines, global expansion and incorporating AI to better assess risk.

The company aims to hone its focus by exiting the global retail commercial insurance market, having sold the rights to renew future policies for its retail accounts to AIG in late 2025. This departure aims to allow the company to concentrate its resources on higher-margin global wholesale and specialty lines.

Reporting on Everest’s third quarter 2025 results, James said: “The go-forward Everest is a more focused, higher-return enterprise anchored in reinsurance and wholesale and specialty insurance, built on underwriting excellence, balance sheet strength and disciplined execution.”

Modernising the human capital narrative

Christopher succeeds Gail Van Beveren, Interim Chief Human Resources Officer, who will remain with the company to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

Gail served as CHRO for almost 40 years, joining in 1986 as an IT Business Systems Analyst, and rose through the ranks for 34 years before becoming CHRO in 2020.

Assuming her executive role during the pandemic, she led the company’s Covid-19 taskforce, managing the transition of the global workforce to remote work with a focus on employee health and safety. 

The move from a long-tenured internal CHRO to an outside specialist reflects the change in strategy.

By recruiting an external leader with a record of leading restructures focused on modernising systems and analytics, the company is aligning its human capital narrative with its 2028 financial and specialty-market expansion targets.

Discussing stepping away from the business on LinkedIn, Gail writes: “It’s been an unforgettable journey, and I am immensely grateful  for the incredible experiences and the wonderful people I’ve had the privilege to work with.

“To my colleagues and friends, your support, teamwork and friendship have meant the world to me. We’ve achieved so much together, and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to share this journey with.

“To my mentors and leaders, your guidance and wisdom have been invaluable. You have shaped my career and helped me grow both professionally and personally.”