Insurtech Eye — Insurance Technology News

FOCUS Names Mark Phillips as SVP of Business Development to Scale AI-Enabled Insurance Operations

By Lauren Towner · 17 September 2026

In brief: FOCUS Insurance Services has appointed Mark Phillips as SVP of Business Development to lead its AI-enabled insurance operations and strategic partnerships for P&C carriers.

Key facts
Total Team Size300+ U.S.-based members
Licensed Professionals100+
2026 Hiring Growth65 new team members
Industry Experience25+ years
Press Release: FOCUS Names Mark Phillips as SVP of Business Development to Scale AI-Enabled Insurance Operations | Featured Image by FF News

FOCUS, the AI-enabled operations partner that has built and run the operations behind property and casualty carriers and MGAs for more than 25 years, today announced that Mark Phillips has joined the company as Senior Vice President of Business Development. Phillips will lead the FOCUS sales organization as the company expands its Launch, Grow, and Scale services and its new strategic partnerships, including its new listing in the Accelerant Marketplace.

Phillips brings 18 years in insurance, split between the carrier side and the services side. He sold personal lines at Liberty Mutual, underwrote at Grange, and led agency territories for Grange, Frankenmuth, and Nationwide across Ohio. He then spent five years at Patra and Genpact working with carrier, broker, and MGA executive teams to rebuild underwriting, claims, and finance operations, with automation and AI built into nearly every program.

"Mark has run the numbers from both sides," said Pete Crowe, President of FOCUS. "He knows what a carrier or MGA operations leader is actually accountable for, and he knows what it takes to deliver against it with licensed people, real governance, and technology that earns its place in the workflow."

FOCUS runs the operation behind a carrier's or MGA's program under the client's own brand:

  • Licensed underwriting services
  • Customer service and agency services
  • Claims FNOL intake, servicing, and claims process management
  • Policy administration, print, and imaging
  • Accounting and billing, including E&S taxes and filings
  • Exposure management and reporting

The company's 300+ U.S.-based team includes 100+ licensed insurance professionals. FOCUS has added 65 team members in 2026 to date, 15 of them licensed insurance professionals and 50 in operations and service roles, as clients launch and expand.

"I have watched carriers lose months waiting on a back office that was still being staffed, and I have watched MGAs give back capacity because the reporting could not keep up with the book," said Mark Phillips, SVP, Business Development at FOCUS. "What sets FOCUS apart is the way licensed insurance expertise, technology, and AI work together as one operation. FOCUS is where I have seen that combination delivered successfully, and I wanted to be part of it."

Carrier and MGA leaders can book time with the FOCUS team at ITC Vegas, September 29 through October 1 at teamfocusins.com/findfocus.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the new SVP of Business Development at FOCUS?

Mark Phillips has joined FOCUS as the Senior Vice President of Business Development. With 18 years of experience at companies like Liberty Mutual and Nationwide, Phillips will lead the sales organization and manage strategic partnerships, including the Accelerant Marketplace.

What services does FOCUS provide to P&C carriers?

FOCUS provides AI-enabled insurance operations including licensed underwriting, customer service, claims FNOL intake, policy administration, accounting, billing, and exposure management. They operate behind the carrier's brand to manage the full lifecycle of insurance programs.

How many licensed professionals does FOCUS employ?

FOCUS currently employs over 100 licensed insurance professionals as part of its 300+ U.S.-based team. The company recently added 65 new members in 2026 to support the growth of its carrier and MGA clients.

About the companies

Focus Insurance

1 story on FF News since 2026

Companies in this story: Focus Insurance

People in this story: Pete Crowe, Mark Phillips

More from News