Mike Morse has stepped into a new role as the director of small business underwriting at Central Insurance, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a strong focus on service. His career in the insurance industry began in commercial lines customer service, where he learned the importance of understanding client needs. Morse believes that great service starts with building relationships from the very first interaction.
Before taking on his new position, Morse spent five years as the Underwriting Manager in Client Connection, where he helped create a service model that combined underwriting excellence with a smooth experience for policyholders. He is now applying this service-oriented approach to enhance Central’s small business vertical.
Morse sees significant potential in the small business sector and is excited about the opportunities ahead. He aims to redefine how Central approaches small business by shifting away from a focus solely on premiums to a model that emphasizes risk and exposure. This change will help the company better support lower-hazard, less complex businesses in a profitable way.
To achieve this, Morse is establishing dedicated regional small business teams. This structure is similar to what has worked well in Central’s construction vertical, ensuring that agents have knowledgeable partners to assist with their small business clients. He emphasizes that specialization is key, as having underwriters who understand the nuances of the small business market can greatly benefit agents and policyholders alike.
Morse is also committed to laying a strong foundation for long-term success. He plans to invest time in understanding the existing business, gathering feedback from new underwriting teams, and using technology to improve efficiency. He believes that clear communication and teamwork are essential for success and wants his team to feel empowered to contribute to the company’s growth.
As he looks to the future, Morse is focused on technology and process improvements that will help Central scale its small business operations. He envisions integrating automation, third-party data, and artificial intelligence to streamline quoting and enhance service speed. Continuous product development will also play a crucial role in making it easier for agents to work with Central.
Morse defines success not just by growth but by building a solid foundation that includes clear definitions of what small business means, a well-communicated appetite for risk, and a collaborative team structure. He is optimistic about the direction Central is heading and believes that the right people are in place to achieve these goals. With a strong emphasis on relationships and service, Morse is excited to lead Central’s small business underwriting into the future.