Emerald Bay Risk Solutions Appoints Tracey Sharis to Lead as CEO
Emerald Bay Risk Solutions (“Emerald Bay” or “the Company”), a forward-thinking, collaborative underwriting carrier, has officially announced a significant leadership appointment. On Thursday, March 20th, the company named Tracey Sharis as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This strategic move signals Emerald Bay’s commitment to expanding its influence in the insurance market, particularly in the specialized sectors of Excess & Surplus (E&S) lines and program business. Sharis’s appointment is poised to further strengthen the company’s already solid foundation and guide it through its next phase of growth.
Tracey Sharis joins Emerald Bay with an impressive career spanning over 25 years in the insurance industry. Her extensive leadership experience covers a wide range of roles across E&S and specialty insurance markets. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a consistent ability to scale businesses, lead strategic initiatives, and foster meaningful relationships within the insurance, reinsurance, and MGA (Managing General Agent) ecosystems.
Most recently, Sharis served as President of Global Risk Solutions for North America Programs at Liberty Mutual Insurance, where she played a pivotal role in expanding Liberty Mutual’s North American program business. Under her leadership, Liberty Mutual’s program Risk Solutions division achieved significant growth, leveraging strong partnerships with MGAs and focusing on delivering tailored risk solutions. Her leadership style has been recognized for its emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and long-term value creation—an approach that aligns perfectly with Emerald Bay’s mission.
Prior to her tenure at Liberty Mutual, Sharis held the position of Senior Vice President and Director of Programs at Ironshore Insurance, a leading global specialty insurer known for its expertise in complex risks. During her time at Ironshore, Sharis successfully led the growth and development of several program portfolios. Her leadership contributed to Ironshore’s solid reputation within the specialty insurance space, eventually culminating in the company’s acquisition by Liberty Mutual in 2017. This transition further broadened her experience in integrating and managing specialty lines within large-scale insurance enterprises.
Before joining Ironshore, Sharis was Managing Director at Aon Benfield, one of the world’s largest reinsurance intermediaries. In this role, she deepened her expertise in reinsurance strategy, portfolio optimization, and capital solutions, helping clients navigate the evolving insurance and reinsurance landscapes. Her experience at Aon Benfield allowed her to build robust connections across the global reinsurance community—a network that will be instrumental as she leads Emerald Bay in cultivating strategic partnerships.
Earlier in her career, Sharis spent 14 years at AIG’s Lexington Insurance Company, a leading player in the E&S market. Her tenure at Lexington provided her with diverse leadership opportunities. She served in key positions including Product Owner for Employment Practices Liability, Chief Innovation Officer, Head of Risk & Economic Capital Modeling, and Risk Solutions Product Owner for Lexington’s Property group. These roles gave her invaluable exposure to product development, innovation, risk modeling, and strategic leadership, shaping her into a versatile and dynamic leader.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Sharis is actively engaged in the broader insurance industry. She is a member of the advisory board of the Target Markets Program Administrators Association (TMPAA), a prominent organization dedicated to advancing the interests of program specialists. Her involvement in TMPAA underscores her commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by MGAs and program administrators, making her an ideal leader for Emerald Bay, which is deeply focused on serving this niche market.
Speaking on Sharis’s appointment, Miles Allkins, Chief Risk Officer and Co-Founder of Emerald Bay, expressed enthusiasm about her joining the leadership team. “We are thrilled to welcome Tracey and her wealth of specialty and program insurance expertise to Emerald Bay,” Allkins stated. “Tracey brings a distinctive combination of industry knowledge, leadership acumen, and deep relationships across the MGA and reinsurance communities. Our business model is fundamentally Risk Solutions built on collaboration, trust, and long-term partnerships.
Tracey’s proven ability to foster and grow meaningful relationships is perfectly Risk Solutions aligned with our core values. Over the past year, we’ve made tremendous strides, and I am confident that Tracey’s leadership will propel us to even greater success. From our Bermuda office, I look forward to continuing to strengthen our position in the reinsurance market while working closely with Tracey.”
In her own remarks, Sharis emphasized her excitement about joining Emerald Bay at this pivotal juncture. “In just over a year, Emerald Bay has established itself as a unique and innovative insurance carrier,” she commented. “The company’s leadership team has laid a strong foundation, characterized by a clear vision, a commitment to underwriting discipline, and deep partnerships with MGAs Risk Solutions and reinsurance providers. I am honored to take on the CEO role and eager to collaborate with the talented team here. Together, we aim to continue delivering tailored solutions and consistent underwriting results to our partners.”
Sharis also highlighted the rapidly evolving landscape of the program insurance market. “As MGAs continue to capture an increasing share of the market and underwriting complexity grows, the need for flexible, reliable, and specialized carriers has never been greater. Emerald Bay is well-positioned to meet this demand, and I am excited about the opportunity to scale the business while staying true to our partner-centric approach. Our focus will remain on building enduring relationships and offering innovative solutions that create long-term value for both our program and capacity partners.”
Emerald Bay Risk Solutions, which officially launched in March 2024, was founded with the goal of delivering tailored insurance solutions, consistent underwriting performance, and mutually beneficial partnerships. The company is backed by Bain Capital Insurance, providing Emerald Bay with the financial strength and strategic support needed to pursue long-term growth Risk Solutions objectives. Since its inception, Emerald Bay has focused on working with a select group of high-performing MGAs and market-leading reinsurance partners, fostering collaboration and trust at every stage of the insurance value chain.
Under Sharis’s leadership, Emerald Bay is expected to continue its momentum, expanding its portfolio while maintaining its commitment to underwriting excellence and innovation. The appointment marks a new chapter in the company’s journey, positioning it to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the dynamic insurance marketplace.
With Tracey Sharis at the helm, Emerald Bay is poised to solidify its position as a leading force in the specialty and program insurance sectors, offering customized solutions to meet the evolving needs of its partners and clients.
