Top 17 Expert InsurTech Recruiters to Help You Build a Team
Explore standout recruiters who have shaped top InsurTech teams across startups and enterprises worldwide. ↓
InsurTech is revolutionizing the insurance industry, with innovation at the forefront of new startups and established firms alike. Behind the growth and success of these companies are exceptional recruiters who specialize in placing top talent in the ever-evolving InsurTech space. These experts possess deep industry knowledge, vast networks, and a keen understanding of the intersection between technology and insurance.
Below is a curated list of 17 top InsurTech recruiters who have made a significant impact by connecting leading professionals with the right opportunities, ensuring your team can thrive in this dynamic sector.
- Tony Cañas
- Gregory P. Jacobson
- Jacob Galecki
- Richard Crossman
- Audry Torrence
- Patty Simpson
- Jillanna Pomelow
- Nora Dawud
- Paul Murphy
- Lynda Barnes
- Len Adams
- Gerald Legrove
- Andrew Eliot
- Lance Polikov
- Paul French
- Jessica Peskin
- Mary Newgard
Each entry includes a brief explanation of why they are among the best, followed by their social media profiles.
Tony Cañas
Nationality: American
Tony Cañas is widely regarded as one of the most recognizable recruiters in the insurance industry.
He spent years at The Jacobson Group before launching his own recruiting practice focused on InsurTech startups. An industry thought leader, he co-founded Insurance Nerds and authored Insuring Tomorrow, leveraging his passion for P&C insurance to connect talent with InsurTech opportunities. Tony has placed over 100 professionals (from entry-level to C-suite) in InsurTech roles in the past 2.5 years, making him a top recruiter who understands both traditional insurance and cutting-edge tech.
- LinkedIn: Tony Cañas
Gregory P. Jacobson
Nationality: American
The future of insurance is in the hands of digital transformation leaders. Our job is to find those exceptional leaders who will drive that change and take the industry to new heights.
Greg Jacobson is co-CEO of The Jacobson Group, the world’s leading insurance recruiting firm.
With 50 years of family experience behind the firm, Greg himself has decades of executive search expertise in insurance and InsurTech. He has led countless searches for insurers and high-growth InsurTech companies, placing CEOs, CIOs, CTOs and other executives who drive digital transformation. An influencer and investor in the industry, Greg is often called upon for his perspectives on insurance labor market trends and talent strategies. Under his leadership, Jacobson Group’s client-centric approach and global reach have made it a premier source of InsurTech talent.
- LinkedIn: Gregory P. Jacobson
Jacob Galecki
Nationality: American
Jacob Galecki is the Founder and Managing Principal of Galecki Search Associates, a boutique firm dedicated to Property & Casualty and InsurTech recruiting.
With a background in actuarial and analytics recruitment, Jacob has developed an “insurtech talent network” that spans actuaries, product managers, data scientists and more. He prides himself on a meticulous process (the “HireSure framework”) to deliver candidates who thrive in innovative insurance organizations. Jacob’s firm has earned testimonials from InsurTech startup leaders for finding talent with the perfect culture fit. His hands-on approach and insurance expertise make him one of the top headhunters in the InsurTech niche.
- LinkedIn: Jacob Galecki
Richard Crossman
Nationality: British
Richard Crossman founded Aruba Exec in 2009 with a mission to create a high-touch executive search practice for tech sectors, including InsurTech. As a C-suite headhunter, Richard has carved out a niche placing CEOs, CTOs, and other senior leaders in high-growth InsurTech, FinTech, and SaaS companies worldwide.
He personally leads all search mandates, bringing a “personalized, boutique” approach to each placement. Clients credit Richard’s extensive network and understanding of both startup dynamics and enterprise insurance for securing game-changing talent. Under his leadership, Aruba Exec was recognized in 2023 as a top Financial Services search firm, validating Richard’s status as one of the best InsurTech executive recruiters.
- LinkedIn: Richard Crossman
- X (Twitter): @ArubaExec
Audry Torrence
Nationality: American
Audry Torrence is a veteran headhunter with 30+ years of experience helping InsurTech and insurance companies hire top talent. As founder of Best Search Inc., she specializes in strategic hiring for insurance/InsurTech firms, often solving complex talent puzzles for startups.
Audry’s long career has made her adept at identifying leaders who can bridge traditional insurance know-how with tech innovation. She is a thought leader who writes and speaks about “insurance & InsurTech strategic hiring”. Known for her creative, passionate approach to recruiting, Audry has become a go-to recruiter for InsurTech companies seeking visionary talent.
- LinkedIn: Audry Torrence
- X (Twitter): @ifindInsPros
Patty Simpson
Nationality: American
Patty Simpson (formerly Patty Jacobsen) is the CEO and Chairwoman of DW Simpson, the world’s largest actuarial and analytics recruitment firm. She co-founded the firm with her late husband Dave Simpson in 1989 and has since placed thousands of actuaries and data scientists, many of whom drive InsurTech innovation in pricing, risk modeling, and AI applications.
Patty’s firm is known for “consistent results” and evolving with the market over 34+ years. She herself is a thought leader in insurance analytics talent, often consulting with InsurTech founders on building data teams. Under Patty’s leadership, DW Simpson has a global reach and a stellar reputation for integrity, making her one of the most influential recruiters in insurance technology domains.
- LinkedIn: Patty Simpson
Jillanna Pomelow
Nationality: American
Jillanna Pomelow is a Partner and VP at QuestPro, one of the premier insurance recruiting firms in the U.S. She has over 20 years of experience and leads QuestPro’s Insurance-Adjacent & InsurTech Startups practice.
Jillanna is celebrated for her strong work ethic and placement record – building QuestPro’s reputation by connecting insurers and InsurTechs with high-impact candidates. She brands herself as a “Recruiter for Insurtech, Sales, Claims, Legal”, reflecting her broad reach across roles. Clients and colleagues laud Jillanna’s commitment to service quality and her deep network in the InsurTech community.
- LinkedIn: Jillanna Pomelow
Nora Dawud
Nationality: South African
Nora Dawud is the CEO and co-founder of Black Pen Recruitment, a boutique firm specializing in FinTech, Blockchain, and InsurTech talent globally. With over a decade of recruiting experience, Nora has built Black Pen into Africa’s #1 fintech/InsurTech recruiting partner.
She’s known for thought leadership in digital insurance and has been featured on media discussing tech talent trends. Under Nora’s vision, Black Pen has connected numerous startups and scale-ups with the right talent to drive innovation. Her firm’s recent recognition as a global industry leader and her personal network across Africa and Europe make Nora one of the top InsurTech recruiters worldwide.
- LinkedIn: Nora Dawud
Paul Murphy
Nationality: Australian
Paul Murphy is the founder and MD of Ensure Recruitment, Australasia’s leading insurance and wealth management recruitment agency. With 20+ years in recruiting, Paul has placed executives across Australia, New Zealand, and Asia in both traditional insurers and InsurTech disruptors.
Under his leadership, Ensure won the 2023 Sourcr Award for Insurance Recruitment Agency of the Year in Australia. Paul is highly respected for his consultative style and his team’s ability to secure hard-to-find talent (from actuarial InsurTech experts in Sydney to digital insurance heads in Hong Kong). He frequently advises insurers on talent strategy amid digital transformation. Paul’s track record of elevating InsurTech startups in the APAC region via key hires makes him one of the best-connected recruiters in that market.
- LinkedIn: Paul Murphy
Lynda Barnes
Nationality: Irish
Lynda Barnes co-founded 360 Search in 2010 and has grown it into Ireland’s leading insurance and InsurTech recruitment consultancy.
With a background as an insurance underwriter and 15+ years in recruiting, Lynda leverages deep industry insight to fill roles from mid-level specialists to C-suite executives. She is celebrated for her “unequalled access” to insurance talent and a client-focused approach that has resulted in 98% retention on placements. Lynda’s firm secured backing from investor James Caan in 2019, underscoring her reputation. Known for her network and influence in the European InsurTech scene, Lynda is a top recruiter who bridges local market expertise with global talent needs.
- LinkedIn: Lynda Barnes
Len Adams
Nationality: American
Len Adams is a 40-year veteran of insurance and financial services recruiting. He founded Adams Consulting Group/ACG Resources in 2002 (building on a prior firm from 1978) and has since provided “boutique firm” service with global reach.
Len’s expertise spans insurance carriers, brokers, reinsurers, and InsurTech startups – effectively “matching candidates with employers” using proprietary search methods. He’s a Certified Personnel Consultant who literally wrote the book on recruitment (“Resilience”). Under Len’s leadership, ACG has become known for high-quality, personalized placements in the insurance and InsurTech sectors. His longevity and consistent results make Len a distinguished recruiter globally.
- LinkedIn: Len Adams
- X (Twitter): @lenadamsACG
Gerald Legrove
Nationality: Canadian
Gerald Legrove leads DGA Careers, the largest executive search firm exclusively focused on the insurance industry in Canada and the US. With 25+ years in recruitment, he expanded DGA into the U.S. (Hartford and beyond) to connect insurers and InsurTechs with top talent.
Gerald has a keen understanding of the evolving insurance market and is known for quickly mobilizing his network of candidates for clients’ needs. He actively participates in industry events (e.g. Insurance-Canada forums) and the National Insurance Recruiters Association, keeping him plugged into talent trends. Under Gerald’s leadership, DGA has successfully placed hundreds of insurance and InsurTech professionals, making him one of the continent’s best-known insurance recruiters.
- LinkedIn: Gerald Legrove
Andrew Eliot
Nationality: British
Andrew Eliot founded Eliot Partnership in 2007 with a vision to build the only global, boutique executive search firm specializing in insurance. He leads a team across London, New York, Singapore, and more, focusing on strategic hires for insurers, reinsurers, and InsurTech firms.
Andrew’s firm is renowned for placing transformational leaders who can navigate the convergence of tech and insurance. He has deep knowledge of international insurance markets and has successfully completed C-suite searches for InsurTech unicorns and traditional giants alike. Eliot Partnership’s client-first, one-P&L model (which Andrew pioneered) has set a new standard in the industry. Andrew Eliot’s influence and track record in placing InsurTech-savvy executives cement his place among the top recruiters globally.
- LinkedIn: Andrew Eliot
Lance Polikov
Nationality: American
Lance Polikov is an award-winning insurance recruiter with over 17 years of experience, specializing in commercial Property & Casualty and professional lines. He founded Polikov Recruitment Solutions (PRS) in 2000 and has since been recognized as a top-performing search consultant (consistently a top 5 billing owner in his franchise network).
Lance’s firm partners with InsurTech MGAs, carriers, and brokers nationwide, prized for its deep knowledge of niche P&C markets. He has a knack for finding “unicorn” candidates in underwriting, claims innovation, and product roles for InsurTech startups. Colleagues commend Lance’s professionalism and seamless process. His long list of placements and industry accolades make Lance a standout individual recruiter in the insurance tech arena.
- LinkedIn: Lance Polikov
Paul French
Nationality: British
Paul French is the co-founder and managing director of Intrinsic Executive Search, a firm known for recruiting top-tier talent for InsurTech and fintech SaaS companies.
With over 19 years in executive search, Paul has become a trusted partner to InsurTech software firms in the UK, EMEA, and North America, helping them hire senior sales, product, and marketing leaders who can scale startups from concept to growth. He is highly regarded for understanding the nuances of SaaS-driven insurance models and often publishes advice on hiring for high-growth tech firms. Paul’s successful placements of CROs, CPOs, and GMs at InsurTech SaaS ventures have earned him a reputation as one of the best in this niche.
- LinkedIn: Paul French
Jessica Peskin
Nationality: American
Jessica Peskin is a boutique agency owner who has quickly emerged as a leading InsurTech recruiter in the United States. After a 26-year career in insurance (starting in underwriting/title insurance), she launched Global Recruiters of Denver in 2019 to focus on “strategic placements” in P&C insurance and InsurTech.
Jessica’s hands-on approach as “Chief Finder of Keepers” has yielded remarkable long-term hires, as she prioritizes cultural fit and lasting impact over volume. She’s also a community builder – co-founding InsurTech Denver and mentoring women in insurance. Jessica’s blend of industry knowledge, passion for connecting people, and stellar placement record make her one of the top independent recruiters in InsurTech today.
- LinkedIn: Jessica Peskin
Mary Newgard
Nationality: American
Mary Newgard is a senior partner at Capstone Search Group and a prominent insurance recruiter with 18+ years of experience. She has built a national reputation for placing talent across agencies, carriers, and InsurTech ventures.
Mary writes the monthly “Ask the Insurance Recruiter” column for Insurance Journal, where she provides thought leadership on hiring trends and career advice. She is also a faculty member for the Insurance Journal’s Academy, educating industry employers on best hiring practices. Mary’s combination of hands-on recruiting success (especially in commercial insurance and insurtech distribution roles) and her influence as a talent strategist have established her as one of the best-connected and respected recruiters in the insurance/InsurTech space.
- LinkedIn: Mary Newgard
Sum Up
These expert recruiters bring invaluable industry knowledge, extensive networks, and a proven track record of working with startups and tech firms in the InsurTech space. However, their services often come with a high price tag or limited availability.
For agile teams looking for a more cost-effective and responsive solution, EchoGlobal Tech offers a great alternative. Reach out to us today!
Note: We’ve dedicated significant time and effort to creating and verifying this curated list of top professionals. However, if you believe a correction or addition is needed, feel free to reach out. We’ll gladly review and update the page.
Lou Reverchuk