VP, Commercial Surety

If you’re passionate about helping people protect what matters most to them at a Fortune 100 company with nearly $70 billion in annual sales, as well as innovating and simplifying processes and operations to provide the best customer value, then Nationwide’s Property and Casualty team could be the place for you! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers and partners are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care. #LI-MM1 Job Description Summary Responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction for the Commercial Surety business, driving underwriting excellence, profitable growth, portfolio performance, and market competitiveness. Serves as the senior underwriting executive accountable for establishing and executing underwriting strategy, risk appetite, product direction, and distribution objectives across the business. Leads a geographically dispersed team of underwriting leaders and directs the development of talent, succession strategies, and organizational capabilities to ensure long-term business success. Oversees portfolio management, underwriting governance, capacity deployment, and emerging risk assessment to optimize profitability, growth, and operational effectiveness. Maintains key relationships with distribution partners, reinsurance stakeholders, and industry leaders while ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements, underwriting standards, and enterprise risk management practices. Acts as the principal subject matter expert and strategic advisor for the Commercial Surety business, influencing business outcomes through data-driven decision-making, market insight, and disciplined underwriting execution.

Key Responsibilities:   Strategic Business Leadership & Distribution Management Provides executive leadership for the Commercial Surety line of business, establishing and executing long-term strategies that drive profitable growth, market expansion, and sustainable competitive advantage. Leads a team of Home Office and Regional Directors, creating alignment between underwriting, distribution, and business objectives across the operating territory. Develops and maintains executive-level relationships with key agencies, brokers, producers, and industry stakeholders, influencing distribution strategy and optimizing market presence. Directs agency and broker appointment strategies, ensuring alignment with growth objectives, risk appetite, and profitability goals. Underwriting Strategy, Portfolio Management & Risk Governance Establishes and maintains underwriting philosophy, risk appetite, authority structures, guidelines, and governance frameworks for the Commercial Surety portfolio. Serves as the senior underwriting authority and principal subject matter expert, ensuring consistent underwriting discipline and portfolio management practices across the organization. Oversees portfolio performance, capacity utilization, emerging risk assessment, and underwriting results to achieve profitability and growth objectives. Collaborates with internal business partners on underwriting audits, quality assurance processes, and compliance activities to ensure adherence to underwriting standards and regulatory requirements. Engages with reinsurance partners and executive stakeholders to communicate portfolio performance, strategic initiatives, and risk management outcomes. Financial Performance & Product Management Accountable for achieving financial objectives for the Commercial Surety business, including premium growth, profitability, retention, and expense management targets. Oversees pricing strategy, risk selection practices, and portfolio optimization efforts to maximize underwriting performance and return on capital. Provides strategic direction for product development, policy form enhancement, rate adequacy initiatives, and regulatory filings. Partners with enterprise leadership to