The Association of Professional Insurance Women has named Everest Re’s Jill Beggs the 2026 Insurance Woman of the Year.

Ms Beggs, the executive vice-president and chief executive of reinsurance at the firm, will be formally honoured at the APIW Awards Ceremony in New York on April 21.

APIW president Dawnmarie Black called Ms Beggs a visionary leader whose impact spanned underwriting excellence, operational rigour and talent development on a global scale.

“Her leadership has not only driven exceptional performance at Everest, but has also helped shape the broader insurance and reinsurance landscape,” Ms Black said.

“Jill exemplifies the integrity, resilience and forward-thinking leadership that our industry and its future leaders aspire to.”

The organisation said that with more than three decades of experience in reinsurance underwriting, innovation and executive leadership, Ms Beggs has built a career defined by growth, transformation and influence.

She began her career at Everest before spending nearly 20 years at Munich Re, where she led treaty and facultative reinsurance teams, advanced innovation initiatives and played a key role in launching the company’s excess and surplus insurance platform.

Ms Beggs returned to Everest in 2021 to lead the North America Reinsurance business and later served as EVP and chief operating officer of reinsurance, helping drive significant expansion across global treaty, facultative, speciality reinsurance and Mt Logan Capital Management.

Last year she was appointed EVP and CEO of reinsurance, assuming responsibility for the strategy, performance and profitable growth of Everest’s global reinsurance division.

“Reflecting her influence well beyond the insurance sector, Jill joined the board of directors of Lyft in 2024, bringing her deep expertise in risk management, strategy and governance to one of the world’s leading transportation technology companies,” APIW said.

“Her board service underscores her reputation as a trusted adviser and enterprise leader capable of guiding complex, global organisations through change.”

APIW also said Ms Beggs has been a passionate advocate for talent development and was widely recognised for championing emerging leaders and expanding pathways for women across the insurance and reinsurance industries.

Ms Beggs has been listed by Insurance Business America’s Elite Women, Woman to Watch, Hot 100 list and has received other industry honours celebrating her leadership, innovation and advocacy.

Ms Beggs said this latest award reflected the incredible teams, mentors and colleagues she has been fortunate to work with throughout her career.

“APIW’s mission to advance women and elevate our industry through connection and leadership is more important than ever and I am proud to support that mission,” she added.