Mark Casale Chairman & CEO Essent Group

Mark A. Casale is the founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Essent Group Ltd. (NYSE: ESNT). Mr. Casale has more than 25 years of financial services experience, which includes senior roles in mortgage banking, mortgage insurance, bond insurance and capital markets.

Founded in 2008 by Mr. Casale with $500 million of equity funding, Essent Group Ltd. has grown to a market capitalization of approximately $6 billion and manages approximately $240B of insurance in force. Under Mr. Casale’s leadership, Essent has become a leading mortgage insurer and reinsurer serving as a trusted and strong counterparty to lenders and GSEs and has enabled over two million borrowers to become homeowners.  Mr. Casale continues to evolve the franchise using risk-based pricing and AI-driven analytics to support his core mission of prudently growing shareholder value and promoting affordable and sustainable homeownership.

Mr. Casale also champions Essent’s philanthropic mission, supporting local and national organizations centered around children, housing, health and education. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur.

A native of the Philadelphia region, Mr. Casale holds a BS in accounting from St. Joseph’s University and an MBA in finance from New York University.

James Eck Vice President - Senior Credit Officer, Insurance, Financial Institutions Moody's Ratings

James has lead coverage responsibility for a portfolio of U.S. and Bermuda-based insurance and reinsurance companies.

Prior to joining Moody’s in 2001, James was an Associate Director at Aon Capital Markets where he was involved in the structuring and placement of catastrophe bonds, alternative risk transfer programs and contingent event capital for corporate and insurance company clients. Before to joining Aon Capital Markets, James was as an independent floor trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and a corporate legal assistant in the Asset Securitization Group at the law firm of Hunton & Williams.

James received an A.B. in History magna cum laude from Bowdoin College and an M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Michael Klein EVP, President of Personal Insurance Travelers

Michael Klein, Executive Vice President, is President of Personal Insurance for Travelers. He previously led the Middle Market business, served as President of Commercial Accounts, and was Senior Vice President, Industry and Product Group.

Klein joined the company in 1990 and has held various positions in Commercial Insurance, Underwriting Knowledge Management, Corporate Planning and Development, Global Health Care Underwriting, and Financial and Professional Services.

Michael has also served a variety of industry-related and not-for-profit organizations over more than two decades. He currently serves as a Trustee for Malta House of Care in Hartford, CT. He also serves as Chair of the Executive Committee for Gamma Iota Sigma, a professional fraternity organized to encourage student interest in insurance as a profession.

Klein holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Minnesota State University – Mankato and is a fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society.

Michael Dion, CFA VP-Senior Analyst, Financial Institutions Moody's Ratings

Mike joined Moody’s in September 2017 and is currently responsible for covering the property & casualty insurance sector, including personal and commercial insurers, reinsurers, brokers and title insurers. He brings to this role a wide range of experience in the equity and credit markets, having worked as a sell-side and buy-side equity analyst covering financials, especially insurance, as well as a credit analyst. Prior to joining Moody’s, Mike was co-head of research of a start-up research operation for UBS Wealth Management and also covered the financial sector. Before joining the buy-side, Mike was an equity analyst, primarily covering the property &casualty sector, at Sandler O’Neill + Partners, ABN Amro, and Hoefer & Arnett, now part of Raymond James. Before receiving his graduate degree, Mike worked as a financial analyst at the Industrial Bank of Japan and the Banc of California. 

Mike received his MBA with an emphasis in Investments and International Finance from the University of Notre Dame, and a BS with a focus in Finance from the University of Southern California. Mike is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and member of the New York Society of Securities Analysts and the CFA Institute.

Mark Casale Chairman & CEO Essent Group

Mark A. Casale is the founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Essent Group Ltd. (NYSE: ESNT). Mr. Casale has more than 25 years of financial services experience, which includes senior roles in mortgage banking, mortgage insurance, bond insurance and capital markets.

Founded in 2008 by Mr. Casale with $500 million of equity funding, Essent Group Ltd. has grown to a market capitalization of approximately $6 billion and manages approximately $240B of insurance in force. Under Mr. Casale’s leadership, Essent has become a leading mortgage insurer and reinsurer serving as a trusted and strong counterparty to lenders and GSEs and has enabled over two million borrowers to become homeowners.  Mr. Casale continues to evolve the franchise using risk-based pricing and AI-driven analytics to support his core mission of prudently growing shareholder value and promoting affordable and sustainable homeownership.

Mr. Casale also champions Essent’s philanthropic mission, supporting local and national organizations centered around children, housing, health and education. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur.

A native of the Philadelphia region, Mr. Casale holds a BS in accounting from St. Joseph’s University and an MBA in finance from New York University.

Michael Dion, CFA VP-Senior Analyst, Financial Institutions Moody's Ratings

Mike joined Moody’s in September 2017 and is currently responsible for covering the property & casualty insurance sector, including personal and commercial insurers, reinsurers, brokers and title insurers. He brings to this role a wide range of experience in the equity and credit markets, having worked as a sell-side and buy-side equity analyst covering financials, especially insurance, as well as a credit analyst. Prior to joining Moody’s, Mike was co-head of research of a start-up research operation for UBS Wealth Management and also covered the financial sector. Before joining the buy-side, Mike was an equity analyst, primarily covering the property &casualty sector, at Sandler O’Neill + Partners, ABN Amro, and Hoefer & Arnett, now part of Raymond James. Before receiving his graduate degree, Mike worked as a financial analyst at the Industrial Bank of Japan and the Banc of California. 

Mike received his MBA with an emphasis in Investments and International Finance from the University of Notre Dame, and a BS with a focus in Finance from the University of Southern California. Mike is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and member of the New York Society of Securities Analysts and the CFA Institute.

James Eck Vice President - Senior Credit Officer, Insurance, Financial Institutions Moody's Ratings

James has lead coverage responsibility for a portfolio of U.S. and Bermuda-based insurance and reinsurance companies.

Prior to joining Moody’s in 2001, James was an Associate Director at Aon Capital Markets where he was involved in the structuring and placement of catastrophe bonds, alternative risk transfer programs and contingent event capital for corporate and insurance company clients. Before to joining Aon Capital Markets, James was as an independent floor trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and a corporate legal assistant in the Asset Securitization Group at the law firm of Hunton & Williams.

James received an A.B. in History magna cum laude from Bowdoin College and an M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Michael Klein EVP, President of Personal Insurance Travelers

Michael Klein, Executive Vice President, is President of Personal Insurance for Travelers. He previously led the Middle Market business, served as President of Commercial Accounts, and was Senior Vice President, Industry and Product Group.

Klein joined the company in 1990 and has held various positions in Commercial Insurance, Underwriting Knowledge Management, Corporate Planning and Development, Global Health Care Underwriting, and Financial and Professional Services.

Michael has also served a variety of industry-related and not-for-profit organizations over more than two decades. He currently serves as a Trustee for Malta House of Care in Hartford, CT. He also serves as Chair of the Executive Committee for Gamma Iota Sigma, a professional fraternity organized to encourage student interest in insurance as a profession.

Klein holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Minnesota State University – Mankato and is a fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society.