CopperPoint Insurance Companies, a prominent Western-based commercial insurance provider, has announced a significant leadership transition. Marc Schmittlein, the current CEO, will succeed Ken Kirk as Chair of the Board of Directors, assuming the combined roles of President and CEO/Executive Chair. In addition, Marita Zuraitis, a current board member, has been elected to serve as Lead Independent Director.
Schmittlein’s move to Executive Chair follows his appointment at the June Board meeting. He joined CopperPoint as CEO in 2016 and has overseen substantial growth, increasing Gross Written Premium from $255 million to $715 million, and total assets from $3.6 billion to $5.2 billion by 2023. Before joining CopperPoint, Schmittlein spent three decades in the commercial insurance industry, most recently as President of the cyber business division at The Travelers Companies, where he was previously co-president of business insurance. He also served as president and CEO of Travelers’ small commercial division known as Select Accounts.
Former Chair of CopperPoint’s Board of Directors, Ken Kirk, stated, “The Board has strong support of Marc Schmittlein as the next Chair of the Board, ensuring the continuation of CopperPoint’s strategy and momentum into the future.” He added, “We believe that he has truly earned this role. With the talent and expertise present on the Board, the Management Team, and the 800+ employees that drive this organization, the company is in great hands going forward.”
Schmittlein expressed enthusiasm for his new role, stating, “I am thrilled to continue investing in and realizing CopperPoint’s transformation and growth in this new, expanded role. We have built a platform that continues to deliver as an industry standout, and I am excited to see the continued momentum and upward trajectory of the company.”
CopperPoint also announced the appointment of Kellen Booher as President & Chief Operating Officer. Booher’s strategic appointment is part of a planned leadership succession, with Booher set to succeed Schmittlein as CEO. Booher joins CopperPoint from Chubb, where he was Executive Vice President and Head of Consumer & Small Commercial for key international markets. Schmittlein and Booher will spend the next year working closely together prior to Schmittlein’s planned retirement in the first quarter of 2026.
As President & COO, Booher will report to CEO Marc Schmittlein. In this role, Booher will focus on driving CopperPoint’s continued growth, operational excellence, business strategy execution, and customer and partner experience. Prior to his time at Chubb, Booher held leadership positions at The Travelers Companies.
Marc Schmittlein, CEO, commented, “Kellen’s deep experience leading complex businesses through transformation while delivering innovative underwriting, service and claims capabilities will be an instrumental driver in taking our business to new heights. I am truly excited to partner with Kellen and confident that his knowledge and expertise will further accelerate our success.”
Booher shared his enthusiasm, saying, “I am thrilled to be joining CopperPoint, particularly as we celebrate a historic 100 years of service and stability. The commitment to excellence, strong values, and dedication to policyholders and business partners align strongly with my own vision. The organization has an excellent foundation with differentiated capabilities and considerable momentum as we embark on our next century of success.”
