Leadership

John serves as the President and CEO of SWG, boasting a decade-long tenure driving its growth and expansion. He attributes the company’s success to its talented colleagues, who possess specialized industry knowledge. John prioritizes supporting community brokers and enhancing client relationships through expertise delivery. He has strategically reinvested cash flow into infrastructure and market-facing initiatives. Notably, he’s accelerated product innovation, enriching the broker channel’s offerings. Looking ahead, John anticipates leveraging automation and AI for continued excellence. His vision includes empowering colleagues to focus more on market engagement and less on transactions, ensuring sustained success over the next decade.

Ghazal Hamid, now President of SWG Specialty since its acquisition by SWG Holdings on January 1st, 2024, boasts a rich legacy in the insurance industry. With a tenure dating back to 2002 within South Western Insurance Group, Ghazal’s expertise in underwriting strategies and distribution optimization has been pivotal to profitability and growth. He pioneers product development and exclusive verticals, nurturing enduring relationships and driving profitability. Ghazal’s leadership focuses on aligning operational efficiencies with the aspirations of MGA communities, elevating business performance through market-aware strategies. His commitment to underwriting standards and risk mitigation, coupled with innovative solutions and partnerships, underscores his role in shaping SWG Specialty’s progressive objectives.

Dwight Rodgers joined SWG as Vice President of Operations in 2025, bringing over 15 years of experience in financial services, with a focus on insurance operations, risk management, and compliance. In his role, he oversees Underwriting Operations, Compliance, Human Resources, Marketing, and Business Development. His leadership is instrumental in strengthening SWG’s position in the MGA space by scaling operational capabilities, enhancing organizational structure, and supporting sustainable growth.

With four decades of industry experience, including an extensive tenure in banking and 20 years at A.M. Fredericks Underwriting Management Ltd (now SWG Specialty), Rob Russell brings a wealth of knowledge to all IT initiatives. As the VP of Transformation, Automation, and Data Analytics at SWG, Rob plays a pivotal role in steering the company’s technological direction and ensuring the seamless integration of advanced IT solutions.

Beenish Shah, CPA and CMA, joined SWG Group Holdings Inc. in 2025 as VP of Finance, leading enterprise-wide financial strategy. With 20+ years in finance, and a over a decade in the insurance sector, she has driven complex transformations, aligned financial strategy with underwriting performance, and steered organizations through uncertainty using rigorous forecasting. Known for building high-performing teams and strong governance, Beenish supports acquisition-driven growth, FP&A, and business continuity across distributed networks. Her underwriting-informed approach enables scalable growth and reinforces SWG’s leadership in the MGA sector.

Alan Tam brings over 20 years of experience in Commercial Property & Casualty Insurance to his role as Vice President of Underwriting – P&C at SWG. With a proven track record in corporate-level management and underwriting excellence, Alan’s expertise in policy processes, underwriting guidelines, and compliance is invaluable to our P&C teams. His leadership and strategic vision will drive our continued success and innovation, focusing on growth and expanding product offerings for the Property and Casualty team.

Shannon Hayes joined SWG as HR Team Lead in May 2024, bringing over 10 years of HR experience in Canada and the US within regulated industries. Shannon is passionate about talent development, employee engagement, and driving organizational success. Her expertise includes employee relations, recruitment, performance management, and talent development, as well as managing complex claims. Shannon has a proven track record of supporting company growth and expansion initiatives while ensuring alignment with organizational goals and values. She holds a BBA with a major in HR and a concentration in Marketing.

Samantha Capone joined SWG as Business Development Manager. Samantha brings a wealth of experience, having served as a Senior Business Development Representative at Wawanesa Insurance, and as a Broker Enablement Specialist at Gore Mutual Assurance. With a proven track record of driving growth and fostering partnerships, she is poised to make significant contributions to SWG’s continued success in the insurance industry.