Getting to Know Jon Kattman

Jon Kattman was recently promoted to SVP, Head of Inland Marine. Find out how he’s been getting on his new role and what his main priorities are for his team over the next 12 months:

You’ve recently stepped into a leadership role as the head of inland marine. What was your mindset going into the role? 

Confident. Our team has great depth of talent, and our leadership and service partners across the business have been supportive. Added to that, we have a strong presence in the market and conditions are favorable.

What have been the highlights in your new role so far?

I have not taken much time to reflect. There are certainly big things but it’s the small ones – a broker outing, a gratifying win, working closely with colleagues – that I enjoy most. I will say the feedback and support from our brokers during and after the initial transition has been a point of pride.  My expectation has always been that the inland team is a consistent and reliable trading partner. Our playbook didn’t changed, and the team managed seamlessly, hitting the mark during my first 60 days and we continue to do so. What has surprised you most about the team in these first two months?

Their resilience. I have always been impressed by the work ethic of our team. However, their eagerness to take on new challenges and responsibilities is exceptional. I am fortunate to work with them.

What was the biggest challenge you faced since starting your new role and how did you overcome it?

I’ll keep this light because every day has its challenges. It happened the first week specifically. I tend to have a sense of urgency about me. The morning after I stepped into the role, I was on a flight to New York to meet with our team, brokers and clients. I didn’t stop talking for three days straight and I eventually lost my voice. There is no overcoming that. Maybe I am a little more conscious of my words per minute now.

What’s one quick win you’ve already identified that you’re excited to implement?

We are further enhancing our product offering in the Motor Truck Cargo and Warehouse Legal Liability space. One of our talented Underwriters has worked diligently to develop a proprietary, comprehensive Logistics form that I expect will be well received in the market.  I am confident in our opportunity to grow profitably in that segment. Rate is in good place and quality of risk has improved in recent years due to technological advancements and investment in infrastructure.

Moving forward, what are your key priorities and how do you plan to leverage the foundations you’ve built?

Much of what we do is closely tied to the Construction space – specifically Builders Risk, which moves quite fast. I want to make it easier to transact business with and within Inland Marine. That involves continuing to develop our tools and systems so that our team can quickly assess risk and meet the service expectations of our trading partners.  We have an excellent Operations Lead that is exploring new and interesting ways to do just that.

What advice would you give to other new leaders navigating their first few months in a role?

A service mindset is the best way to deliver value and inspire trust and loyalty…and try to have some fun.

What does “One Aspen” mean to you, and how are you bringing that mindset into your role?

I interpret it to mean that we are all pulling in the same direction to deliver value. That has certainly been my experience during my time at Aspen. I see a lot of collaboration within Inland Marine and across the business to achieve our collective goals.

How do you encourage team members to bring their authentic selves to work and contribute authentically?

Aspen is a welcoming place to work, Inland Marine certainly so. We have a global presence and, with that, comes a breadth of experiences and perspectives. Camaraderie is encouraged and respect is expected. Our shared values and behaviors as an organization speak loudly on this position.