10 RLI underwriting leaders
VP, Excess Liability Underwriting, VP, General Liability, Vice President Environmental and AVP, Underwriting - Surety are among the titles these RLI underwriting leaders hold today. A reader can learn how underwriting leaders work at RLI from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Cathy Martin,CPCU
LinkedInExperience: VP, Excess Liability Underwriting · RLI Insurance Company
Cathy Martin has been VP, Excess Liability Underwriting at RLI Insurance Company since November 2025, based in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, and has also held AVP, Casualty Underwriting there since August 2009. Cathy Martin was Director, Underwriting, Specialty Programs at RLI Insurance Company from 2007 to 2009 and AVP at The Center E&S Insurance from 1996 to 1999.
Chris Gleason
LinkedInExperience: Vice President - Contract Surety · RLI Insurance Company
Chris Gleason has been Vice President - Contract Surety at RLI Insurance Company since January 2023, based in Akron, Ohio, and the listing places that role in Cleveland, Ohio. Chris Gleason has also held the title Assistant Vice President at RLI Insurance Company since January 2003, and the profile headline reads Vice President - Contract Surety at RLI Insurance Company.
Chris Hughs
LinkedInExperience: VP, General Liability · RLI Insurance Company
Chris Hughs has been VP, General Liability at RLI Insurance Company since January 2023, based in Cumming, Georgia. At RLI Insurance Company, Chris Hughs was AVP, Underwriting from 2014 to 2022, Director, Casualty from 2013 to 2014, Senior Casualty Underwriter from 2005 to 2013 and Assistant Underwriting Director from 2000 to 2005.
Christine Cornelius
LinkedInExperience: AVP Surety Underwriting · RLI Insurance Company
Christine Cornelius has been AVP Surety Underwriting at RLI Insurance Company since April 2023, based in Peoria, Arizona, and has also held Director of Underwriting Miscellaneous Surety there since September 2002. Christine Cornelius was Field Underwriter at RLI Surety from 1999 to 2001 and Senior Underwriter at Amwest Surety from 1994 to 1999.
Jeff Layer, AFSB, AU
LinkedInExperience: AVP, Underwriting - Surety · RLI Insurance Company
Jeff Layer has been AVP, Underwriting - Surety at RLI Insurance Company since April 2026, based in Peoria, Illinois. At RLI Insurance Company, Jeff Layer was Regional Director, Underwriting - Surety from 2025 to 2026, Director, Underwriting - Surety from 2023 to 2025, Manager, Underwriting - Surety from 2022 to 2023 and Sr. Underwriter - Surety from 2019 to 2022.
John Hodge
LinkedInExperience: AVP - Excess Casualty Underwriting · RLI Insurance Company
John Hodge has been AVP - Excess Casualty Underwriting at RLI Insurance Company since April 2016, based in Alpharetta, Georgia. John Hodge was Senior Excess Casualty Underwriter at Houston Casualty Company from 2014 to 2016, Senior Umbrella Underwriter at Crum & Forster from 2011 to 2014 and Sr. Casualty Underwriter at Aspen Specialty Insurance from 2009 to 2011.
Jon Ward
LinkedInExperience: VP, E&S Property · RLI Insurance Company
Jon Ward has been VP, E&S Property at RLI Insurance Company since August 2020, based in Dunlap, Illinois, and the profile headline reads VP, E&S Property at RLI Insurance Company. At RLI Insurance Company, Jon Ward was AVP, Risk Services from 2014 to 2020 and Director, Exposure Management from 2003 to 2014.
Mike Haswell, CPCU, AIC, AFCPE
LinkedInExperience: VP, Underwriting, Business Development & Retention at RLI Transportation · RLI Insurance Company
Mike Haswell has been VP, Underwriting, Business Development & Retention at RLI Transportation at RLI Insurance Company since January 2025, based in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. At RLI Insurance Company, Mike Haswell was VP, Business Development and Retention from 2017 to 2025 and Vice President, Sales and Marketing from 2015 to 2017.
Thomas Huber
LinkedInExperience: Vice President -- National Fidelity Practice Leader · RLI Insurance Company
Thomas Huber has been Vice President -- National Fidelity Practice Leader at RLI Insurance Company since September 2008, based in New York. Thomas Huber was Underwriting Director at CNA Insurance from 2003 to 2008 and from 1998 to 2002, Underwriting Manager at The Hartford from 2002 to 2003 and Sr. Underwriter -- Fidelity and Surety at St. Paul Re. from 1996 to 1998.
William R. Bell
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Environmental · RLI Insurance Company
William R. Bell has been Vice President Environmental at RLI Insurance Company since January 2018, based in New York. William R. Bell was SVP Environmental Insurance at Liberty Specialty Markets from 2016 to 2017, Vice President at Chubb from 2002 to 2016 and Vice President at AIG from 1998 to 2002.
Choose the right perspective
Pick the person whose title names the specialty line behind your question, such as excess liability, general liability, environmental, E&S property, surety, fidelity or transportation. Consider how long each person has led that line and whether you need a practice leader's view or a closer look at one book.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did you focus on first when you took on your underwriting leadership role at RLI?
- 02How do you decide where to grow or tighten appetite in the specialty line you lead?
- 03What has your own work at RLI taught you about developing specialty underwriters?
Reaching RLI underwriting leaders
How can I contact one of these RLI underwriting leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 1 company: RLI Insurance Company, based on profile data retrieved on October 25, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach RLI underwriting leaders?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. The offer is what the person receives, and Instant Expert's fee is added on top, so a $100 offer costs you $125. The fee is 20% of what you pay. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these RLI underwriting leaders a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.