LAKELAND, Florida — February 2, 2026
Executive Summary
Summit, a superregional provider of workers’ compensation insurance services in the United States, has announced the appointment of Chris Neyrey as vice president of its Southwest Region. Neyrey succeeds Hank Chiles, who is scheduled to retire in July 2026 following a 36-year career with the company. In his new role, Neyrey will oversee regional operations and strategic initiatives across Summit’s Southwest footprint. According to the company, the appointment reflects continuity in leadership and a focus on operational experience, internal advancement, and long-term regional growth. Neyrey has been with Summit in various leadership capacities since 2006 and most recently served as assistant vice president of underwriting. The transition is positioned as part of Summit’s planned leadership succession within its regional operating structure.
Announcement Overview
Summit announced that Chris Neyrey has been named vice president of the company’s Southwest Region, marking a leadership transition within its regional management team. Neyrey will assume the role previously held by Hank Chiles, who will retire in July 2026 after more than three decades with the organization.
According to Summit, the appointment is effective immediately and reflects the company’s practice of promoting experienced leaders with deep institutional knowledge. In his new capacity, Neyrey will be responsible for regional oversight, operational coordination, and engagement with agents, policyholders, and internal teams across the Southwest Region.
The company stated that Neyrey’s progression into the vice president role follows a long tenure in sales and underwriting leadership positions within Summit. His appointment is intended to support regional continuity while positioning the Southwest Region for continued operational execution within Summit’s broader geographic footprint.
Key Announcement Details
- Announcement type: Executive appointment
- Executive appointed: Chris Neyrey
- New role: Vice President, Southwest Region
- Company: Summit
- Effective date: February 2026
- Predecessor: Hank Chiles
- Retirement timing of predecessor: July 2026
- Industry: Workers’ compensation insurance
- Geographic focus: Southwest Region of Summit’s operating footprint
Strategic Context
According to the company, the appointment of Chris Neyrey reflects Summit’s structured approach to leadership succession and regional management. Regional vice presidents play a central role in coordinating underwriting, sales, service, and operational functions across defined territories, particularly within regulated insurance markets where consistency and local expertise are critical.
Summit operates within the workers’ compensation insurance segment, which requires alignment across underwriting discipline, claims management, regulatory compliance, and agent relationships. The company stated that regional leadership experience is essential to maintaining service standards across diverse state-level regulatory environments.
The Southwest Region represents a portion of Summit’s broader multi-state operations. According to Summit, leadership continuity in this region supports ongoing relationships with agents and policyholders while ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and operational frameworks established at the enterprise level.
Leadership Statement
“Chris brings strategic insight, operational knowledge, and a genuine commitment to our agents, policyholders, and employees,” said James Wood, president and CEO of Summit. “He has a deep understanding of Summit’s business and the evolving needs of our customers, as well as a wealth of experience across Summit’s core departments. We are excited to see Chris increase his responsibilities and continue driving growth and expansion in the Southwest Region both within our current footprint and into new states.”
Professional Background and Career Progression
Chris Neyrey joined Summit in 2006, beginning his career with the company as a regional sales manager. In that role, he was responsible for working with agency partners and supporting the company’s distribution strategy within assigned markets.
In 2014, Neyrey was promoted to assistant vice president of sales. According to the company, this role expanded his responsibilities to include broader sales leadership, coordination with underwriting teams, and participation in regional strategy execution. His experience in sales leadership provided exposure to Summit’s agency relationships and market-facing operations.
After a brief period away from the organization, Neyrey returned to Summit in 2019. He subsequently transitioned into underwriting leadership and most recently served as assistant vice president of underwriting. In that role, he was responsible for underwriting oversight, risk evaluation, and alignment with Summit’s pricing and portfolio management strategies.
According to Summit, Neyrey’s experience across both sales and underwriting functions has contributed to a comprehensive understanding of the company’s operating model. This cross-functional background was cited as a factor in his appointment to the vice president role.
Role and Responsibilities in the Southwest Region
As vice president of the Southwest Region, Neyrey will oversee Summit’s regional operations, including coordination across underwriting, sales, service, and operational teams. According to the company, the role involves ensuring consistent execution of Summit’s workers’ compensation insurance programs while maintaining responsiveness to regional market conditions.
Regional vice presidents are responsible for working closely with agency partners, supporting policyholder relationships, and aligning regional performance with enterprise-level objectives. Summit stated that Neyrey’s responsibilities will also include collaboration with senior leadership on strategic initiatives affecting regional growth and operational efficiency.
The company indicated that Neyrey will focus on both maintaining Summit’s existing footprint in the Southwest Region and supporting expansion into additional states as opportunities arise, consistent with regulatory requirements and corporate strategy.
Transition From Hank Chiles
Hank Chiles, whom Neyrey succeeds, will retire in July 2026 following a 36-year career with Summit. According to the company, Chiles has played a significant role in the development and oversight of Summit’s regional operations during his tenure.
Summit stated that the transition has been planned to ensure continuity of leadership and operational stability within the Southwest Region. Chiles is expected to remain with the company during a transition period prior to his retirement, supporting knowledge transfer and continuity.
The company acknowledged Chiles’ long service and contributions to Summit’s regional growth and operational development, noting that his retirement marks the conclusion of a multi-decade career within the organization.
Educational Background and Professional Credentials
Chris Neyrey earned both his bachelor’s degree and his Master of Business Administration from Louisiana State University. According to the company, his academic background supports his experience in business operations, management, and strategic decision-making.
In addition to his formal education, Neyrey holds several professional insurance designations. These include Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), and Associate in Reinsurance (ARe). Summit stated that these designations reflect advanced knowledge of insurance principles, underwriting practices, and risk management.
The company noted that Neyrey’s combination of education, professional credentials, and internal experience aligns with the technical and leadership requirements of the vice president role.
Regional Operations and Market Coverage
Summit operates across multiple states in the United States, providing workers’ compensation insurance coverage to businesses in a range of industries. According to the company, its regional structure is designed to support localized expertise while maintaining centralized operational standards.
The Southwest Region is part of Summit’s broader geographic footprint, which includes operations across the Southeast, Midwest, and other regions. Summit stated that regional leadership is essential to navigating state-specific regulatory frameworks, market conditions, and distribution dynamics.
According to the company, regional vice presidents work closely with underwriting and claims teams to ensure that policyholders receive consistent service while maintaining disciplined risk management practices.
About Summit
Based in Lakeland, Florida, Summit is a regional provider of workers’ compensation insurance coverage in the United States and a member of Great American Insurance Group. Summit manages the day-to-day operations of six workers’ compensation insurance companies, including three affiliates and three non-affiliates.
Summit’s affiliated companies include Bridgefield Employers Insurance Company, Bridgefield Casualty Insurance Company, and Bridgefield Indemnity Insurance Company. The company also manages BusinessFirst Insurance Company, RetailFirst Insurance Company, and Retailers Casualty Insurance Company.
Summit provides workers’ compensation insurance services to businesses in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The company maintains offices in Lakeland, Florida; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Gainesville, Georgia.
According to the company, Summit focuses on delivering workers’ compensation insurance solutions supported by underwriting discipline, claims management expertise, and regional market knowledge.
Relationship With Great American Insurance Group
Summit is a member of Great American Insurance Group, whose operations are engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance with a focus on specialized commercial products for businesses. Great American Insurance Group traces its origins to 1872 with the founding of its flagship company, Great American Insurance Company.
Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, Great American Insurance Group has maintained strong financial ratings over an extended period. According to the company, Great American Insurance Company has received an “A” (Excellent) or higher rating from AM Best for more than 115 years and is currently rated “A+” (Superior).
The members of Great American Insurance Group are subsidiaries of American Financial Group, Inc., which is also based in Cincinnati, Ohio. American Financial Group’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFG.
Governance and Organizational Structure
According to Summit, its governance and organizational framework is designed to support disciplined underwriting, regulatory compliance, and consistent service delivery. Regional leadership roles, including vice presidents, serve as a key link between enterprise strategy and local execution.
The company stated that leadership appointments are evaluated based on experience, internal performance, and alignment with Summit’s operational and cultural priorities. Neyrey’s appointment is positioned within this framework, emphasizing internal development and continuity.
Industry Context
Workers’ compensation insurance operates within a highly regulated environment, with requirements varying by state. According to Summit, regional leadership plays a critical role in ensuring compliance with regulatory standards while adapting to local market dynamics.
The company noted that experience across underwriting, sales, and operations is particularly important in managing workers’ compensation portfolios, given the long-tail nature of claims and the importance of risk selection and pricing discipline.
Summit stated that leadership continuity supports consistent application of underwriting guidelines and service standards across its operating regions.
Media and Company Contact Information
Summit Contact
James Wood
President and CEO, Summit
Phone: 1-800-282-7648
Great American Insurance Group Media Contact
Diane P. Weidner, IRC, CPA (inactive)
Vice President, Investor & Media Relations
American Financial Group, Inc.
Phone: 513-369-5713
Source Attribution
Source: Company announcement